American Airlines (AA) and Qantas Airways have received approval from the US Department of Transportation for a Joint Business Agreement (JBA), which will extend the partnership between the two carriers.
Currently, the two carriers share an extensive codeshare agreement for more than 28 destinations within North America and Australia, which also enables reciprocal benefits for frequent flier members (see story here).
The JBA will enable them to deepen this relationship to offer passengers greater flexibility with increased frequencies, coordinated transpacific and domestic flight schedules within North America, Australia and New Zealand and even more codesharing. Aligning schedules will also shorten connection times.
Furthermore, the two carriers will be able to launch joint pricing initiatives thus enabling competitive rates. More details of the agreement have yet to be penned.
“With approval for our joint business agreement, both carriers can now work even more closely together on strategic initiatives that will benefit our customers in both markets,” said Rob Gurney, group executive for Qantas.
Qantas is currently in the process of revitalising its international network with its new “International Strategy,” which will not only see an investment in strengthening and consolidating its network, but also the establishment of two new airlines based in Asia: Jetstar Japan and an unnamed Asian-based premium carrier (see story here).
Earlier this year, AA entered a joint revenue scheme with Japan Airlines (JAL) with revenues split between the two carriers on transpacific routes (see story here).
For more information, visit www.qantas.com.au or www.aa.com
Alisha Haridasani
