Emirates-Qantas deal okayed for 5 more years

dubai - Both airlines have gained immense financial benefits from their partnership

Qantas and Emirates welcome the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's (ACCC) reauthorisation of their partnership until 2023.

Qantas International CEO Alison Webster said the ACCC's reauthorisation of "our joint business is an important milestone in helping us" continue to deliver benefits for travellers and Australian tourism for the next 5 years.

"The evolution of our partnership reflects changes in customer demand and will allow us to leverage the latest aircraft technology and maximise new routes. For customers, the continuation of the joint business, announced in August 2017, will deliver expanded services, greater schedule choice, increased frequent flyer benefits and an ongoing commitment to the development of world-class products and travel experiences.

Thierry Antinori, Emirates' executive vice-president and chief commercial officer, said: "We look forward to progressing on the plans that will take our successful partnership to its next phase. Together, we offer travellers access to even more destinations on our joint network, more convenient flight choices and frequent flyer benefits."

Saj Ahmad, an analyst at London's StrategicAero Research, said both airlines have gained immense financial benefits from their partnership and its easy to see why the ACCC was keen to allow this pact to continue for the ease and betterment of passengers and competition.

"Getting clearance for another 5 years paves the way for Emirates and Qantas to expand and proliferate their route offerings beyond Dubai and Sydney for routes to Europe and beyond. Qantas' shifting of flights out of Dubai to Singapore allows for additional organic expansion for Emirates as it deepens its integration with flydubai while allowing Qantas to harness demand out of Asia from Singapore to Europe," Ahmad said.

"With Emirates' expanding A380 fleet operating into Australia, passengers are awash with choice and competitive fares for travel to Europe. This choice proliferation also benefits regional routes into Trans-Tasman routes out of Sydney, Melbourne and other cities as well as across the GCC from Dubai," he added.

- business@khaleejtimes.com