Qantas fights Virgin-Etihad pact
Qantas has asked the nation’s antitrust regulator not to grant interim approval to the proposed alliance between Virgin Blue and Etihad Airways.
The regulator should consider the effects of the tie-up including the impact on fares between Abu Dhabi and Europe before granting authorisation, Qantas said in a submission to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
“Since Abu Dhabi attracts only a small volume of point to point travel, the true value of the proposed alliance rests in access to international networks,†Qantas said in its submission, reported by Bloomberg News.
“It is not possible that the applicants will not also be coordinating prices between Australia and Europe when they are price fixing on the Australia-Abu Dhabi route.â€
Virgin Blue recently sealed an agreement to share services and cooperate on routes between Australia and Etihad’s base in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.
Ian Jarrett
Have your say Cancel reply
Subscribe/Login to Travel Mole Newsletter
Travel Mole Newsletter is a subscriber only travel trade news publication. If you are receiving this message, simply enter your email address to sign in or register if you are not. In order to display the B2B travel content that meets your business needs, we need to know who are and what are your business needs. ITR is free to our subscribers.
































TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Strike action set to cause travel chaos at Brussels airports
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent