Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Ramadan 17, 1445 H
broken clouds
weather
OMAN
23°C / 23°C
EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

American Airlines-Qantas joint venture wins final US approval

1272928
1272928
minus
plus

WASHINGTON: The US Department of Transportation (DOT) on Friday granted American Airlines Group Inc and Qantas Airways Ltd final approval to operate a joint venture after a prior effort was rejected in 2016.


The department last month had issued an order tentatively approving the agreement and granting antitrust immunity to the airlines covering international service.


US Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao announced the approval on Friday afternoon, noting it was the first completed review of an airline joint venture proposal during the Trump administration.


An application for a joint venture covering the United States, Australia and New Zealand was rejected in November 2016 by former president Barack Obama’s DOT. It tentatively concluded after a 17-month review that the venture “would reduce competition and consumer choice.”


The deal will allow the airlines to coordinate planning, pricing, sales and frequent flyer programmes, with new options and customer service improvements. The two OneWorld alliance carriers are planning up to three new routes within the first two years as well as increased capacity on existing routes, the department has said.


American Airlines did not immediately comment on Friday, but Chief Executive Doug Parker said last month the joint venture would also create new jobs in the airlines and industries.


In June, JetBlue Airways Corp told the DOT that it took no position on the alliance, but said it would “substantially reduce competition in relevant markets and concentrate a huge level of market share and power in the hands of immunized alliances.”


It also said the three major global airline alliances — OneWorld, SkyTeam and StarAlliance — will control 86 per cent of the US-Australia market.


US regulators in 2001 approved similar joint venture agreements for United Airlines and Air New Zealand Ltd, and in 2011 for Delta Air Lines Inc and Virgin Australia.


The US DOT is, however, requiring American and Qantas to perform a self-assessment of the venture’s impact on competition seven years after it takes effect and report their findings to the government.


Regulators in Australia and New Zealand approved the first application for the joint venture before it was initially rejected by the US DOT.


American and Qantas in February 2018 made a second attempt to gain US regulatory permission under President Donald Trump’s administration for a venture that would let them coordinate prices and schedules. They threatened to cancel services if it was rejected and argued it could “unlock” up to $310 million annually in consumer benefits.


— Reuters


SHARE ARTICLE
arrow up
home icon