ACCC OKs Qantas, Emirates collaboration

The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) has granted interim authorisation to enable Qantas Airways Ltd, Emirates and their related entities to continue coordinating their passenger and cargo transport operations while the ACCC assesses their substantive application for authorisation. Qantas and Emirates have an existing authorisation granted in 2018 that will expire on 31 March 2023. Under the existing authorisation Qantas and Emirates can coordinate their operations across their respective networks, covering routes between Australia and UK/Europe, New Zealand, Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. The parties have made a new application for authorisation so they can continue their operational coordination for another five years after the existing authorisation expires. “The interim authorisation commences immediately and allows the parties to continue coordinating their operations while the ACCC considers and evaluates the merits of the substantive application for authorisation,” ACCC Commissioner Anna Brakey said. “The ACCC may review the interim authorisation at any time and its interim authorisation decision should not be taken to be indicative of whether or not final authorisation will be granted.” For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Kay Rolland at [email protected]