Qantas, AA shelve partnership expansion: what happens now?
Qantas and American Airlines will no longer seek to expand their joint venture partnership following a tentative denial of antitrust immunity by the US Department of Transportation.
The airlines had hoped to allay the DoT’s concerns over competition on trans-Pacific routes but were also declined an extension to do so beyond the two-week window afforded by the DoT, resulting in the withdrawal of the airlines’ joint application on aspects such as revenue sharing.
But what does this regulatory stoush actually mean for travellers?
Today, not too much: Qantas will continue codesharing on American Airlines flights and AA will do likewise with Qantas, with travellers earning and spending frequent flyer points – and earning status credits – as they do today whenever flying with either airline.
Sleep easy: you'll still earn Qantas Points and status credits when travelling with American Airlines.
Qantas and American will also remain partners through their longstanding memberships in the global Oneworld airline alliance, promising perks such as priority check-in and airport lounge access to selected frequent flyers when travelling with these and all other Oneworld carriers.
For the immediate future, all Qantas and American Airlines flights between the USA and both Australia and New Zealand will run as scheduled, including AA’s recently-launched routes from Sydney and Auckland to Los Angeles, and Qantas’ newly-returned Sydney-San Francisco flights.
However, what happens next is yet to be decided, with both Qantas and AA mulling the future shape of their respective networks.
“Without antitrust approval, Qantas and American Airlines will be severely limited in their ability to work together to grow on the trans-Pacific routes,” Qantas said in a statement. “As a consequence, each airline will need to assess their trans-Pacific networks.”
“This is an extremely disappointing sequence of events for Qantas and American Airlines, as well as for customers,” the statement continues. “Both carriers are committed to finding ways to work together more closely to deliver benefits to customers that neither could offer alone.”
Qantas and American Airlines submitted their application in June 2015, almost six months before American started flights between Sydney and Los Angeles and Qantas resumed its Sydney-San Francisco route.
A Qantas spokeswoman said the airline was now "considering (its) options" on the Sydney-San Francisco route, for example.
With limitations on the airlines’ commercial cooperation, the prospect of using Qantas Points to upgrade to business and first class on American Airlines flights – and vice versa – is also in doubt, having previously been considered as part of the expanded joint venture.
Read: Qantas CEO mulls points upgrades on American Airlines flights
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
18 May 2011
Total posts 233
I wonder if Sydney-Chicago is off the drawing board now?
12 Dec 2012
Total posts 1027
Maybe in a year or so, they'll have had the chance to go over the DoTs issues in more detail, have worked out options both with and without a ATI level partnership, gotten any new data on any UA/NZ and DL/VA moves and then re apply.
20 May 2015
Total posts 579
Prediction: AA will still serve SYD with their 777-300ER, and AKL with their 787-8. Qantas will still serve SFO from SYD.
Qatar Airways
04 Apr 2014
Total posts 25
What impact will this have on QF 789 deployment?
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2558
Given no Boeing 787 routes have been announced, estimations of 'impact' would be premature...
20 May 2015
Total posts 579
Probably none.
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3006
Besides agreeing on a common price, what would the closer relationship, which has been halted by the DOT allow AA and QF to do?
I still don't quite understand that bit.
I don't know about other readers, but if there was a table, like the one below explaining the different benefits, that would certainly help.
*trying to insert a picture - not having much luck*
20 May 2015
Total posts 579
"Besides agreeing on a common price, what would the closer relationship, which has been halted by the DOT allow AA and QF to do?"
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
08 Sep 2012
Total posts 236
Revenue sharing and common pricing. As you allude to, they would have ceased competingwith each other and operated as a single airline much like QF and BA did under their JV. Joint marketing etc It would have gone far beyond the oneworld relationship.
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3006
Common pricing and associated revenue sharing seems to be the goal, in addition to other synergies (non-wasteful overlapping) around marketing etc.
OK - so here's the questions:
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
26 May 2014
Total posts 465
I understood that Hawaiian was the main objector to the proposed JV. Does that suggest that the JV would have allowed QF and AA to offer more attractive AU-US tickets with a Hawaii stop-over?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Oct 2011
Total posts 464
They could do this now, if they choose. It's certainly possible to fly QF to HNL and then AA to the mainland.
29 Nov 2016
Total posts 1
Have booked SYD/SFO for next Sept, whats the likelihood of changes?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Oct 2011
Total posts 464
Probably none - provided that QF is not losing money on the route.
10 Aug 2016
Total posts 4
Another reason for QF to launch the 787 on the SYD-SFO route, right sizing SFO with 787 will ensure the route stays in place in my opinion.
Air New Zealand - Airpoints
21 Jan 2016
Total posts 193
I think they should consolidate on what QF/AA got, on their Trans Pacific routes, in case EK does SYD/MEL-AKL-LAX services with a A380. The chances of it happening are real, as EK is using AKL to positioning their A380's being as it cheaper to then SYD and MEL. With non-stop DXB/AKL services, AKL is in perfect location for a hub for an AKL/LAX sector. NZ/UA are fully aware this could happen.
NZ, UA, VA, DL and HA objected to QF/AA joint venture application.
American Airlines - AAdvantage
13 Jun 2015
Total posts 2
No matter what AA applies for, UA & DL are objecting it. DL is objecting to any other US Carrier's application for that matter.
12 Dec 2012
Total posts 1027
You just have to look at the fight DL created over HND to see that....
19 Aug 2011
Total posts 22
Is that even allowed? I didn't think EK had fifth freedom rights on the transpac routes.
21 Aug 2015
Total posts 86
The US obviously thought this cosy little arrangement was anti competitive. A rare win for consumers. AA Jclass is far superior to QF, and so is Delta and Virgin. We may see price competition.
31 Mar 2016
Total posts 619
31 Mar 2016
Total posts 619
IMHO, failure for AA+QF to achieve ATI for their Trans-Pcf JV creates moderate strategic/financial impacts to AA & QF directly and very minor indirect impacts fm consumer perspective.
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3006
@FLX,
LOVE your analysis! Thank you!
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