Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia have welcomed the decision by New Zealand’s Minister of Transport to extend authorisation of the trans-Tasman alliance. The New Zealand government’s approval was the last hurdle in extending the alliance through to October 2018.
In reauthorising the alliance, the New Zealand government has not sought to impose any additional conditions, effectively supporting the conditions specified in the approval recently granted by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
Reauthorisation of the alliance, which has been operating for the last two years, will enable both airlines to realise more efficiencies and cost savings while enhancing the competitive proposition against the recently- inaugurated alliance by Emirates and Qantas.
Between Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia, the trans-Tasman network connects 35 destinations in Australia with 26 destinations in New Zealand.
