Australian watchdog approves SIA/Virgin tie-up
Virgin Australia’s bid to create a virtual international network is complete, after the competition watchdog gave final approval to the airline’s alliance with Singapore Airlines.
The carriers will cooperate on pricing, scheduling, marketing and sales on Australia-Singapore services and international and domestic connecting flights. 


The tie-up has received the green light from the Competition Commission of Singapore. 


Virgin already has regulatory approval for partnerships with Etihad Airways, Air New Zealand and Delta Air Lines.
The latest approval for a Virgin-SIA alliance, on the day SIA’s long-haul, low-cost subsidiary Scoot, announced that Sydney will be its first international destination, adds another layer of intrigue to the battle for Asian flyers.
Qantas, with its planned premium class airline in Asia, its expansion of Jetstar, and its mooted cooperation with Malaysia Airlines, will be battling head winds as Virgin Australia finds way to get the best of its various alliances.
Ben Sandilands of Plane Talking, commented: “The contest between Singapore Airlines and Virgin Australia and Qantas and Jetstar and Malaysia is going to force both camps to offer simplicity, convenience, and frequent flyer points, as well as dirt cheap headline fares.
“The ultimate winner may be the side which renders such complexity simpler than the other.â€
by TravelMole Asia
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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