Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways can commence selling 28 weekly return flights between Doha and Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.
In making its decision, the ACCC said granting interim authorisation will allow the two carriers the lead-time to undertake necessary planning discussions, marketing, selling and system alignment in preparation for new services to start operating in June 2025.
While preliminary approval is a positive step for the alliance, the ACCC noted the new services will be subject to final regulatory approval by the ACCC and other government bodies, and the undertaking accepted today ensures that if final regulatory approval is ultimately denied, then customers who have booked the proposed new services will be protected.
“Affected customers will be given the option of a refund or re-accommodation on a suitable alternative flight at no additional charge and would not be out of pocket for any reasonably foreseeable costs if these proposed new services ultimately don’t get approved,” ACCC Deputy Chair Keogh said.
Before giving final approval, the ACCC said it is carefully considering concerns raised around wet lease arrangements, and the impact of the proposed exclusivity arrangements between Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways.
The ACCC is expected to release a draft determination in February 2025.
There was no explicit mention made of granting approval for Qatar Airways’ proposed 25% purchase in VA.
More details in today’s issue of Travel Daily.