The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has issued a draft decision to approve the Joint Business Agreement (JBA) between Qantas and American Airlines.
Under the proposed JBA, both airlines will be allowed to “coordinate operations on services between Australia/New Zealand and the United States” on trans-Pacific routes, as well as on services which support those routes.
“The ACCC considers that the JBA is likely to result in new and improved products and services, including improved schedules and connectivity,” ACCC chairman Rod Sims said in a statement.
“The ACCC does not consider that the JBA will have any anti-competitive effects, as Qantas and American Airlines do not currently provide any overlapping direct services between Australia and the United States,” he added.
The ACCC’s decision follows “interim authorisation” granted to both airlines in June, which allowed Qantas and American Airlines to undertake a coordinated “sales and marketing campaign” in Australia and the United States.
