Washington, D.C. (TAN): The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) has granted American Airlines and Australian carrier Qantas Airways final approval to operate a joint business between the United States, Australia and New Zealand.
The DOT had issued a tentative order approving the joint venture in early June.
Following the final order, the two airlines can coordinate their planning, pricing, sales and frequent flyer programmes, with new options and upgraded customer service.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao announced the approval, adding it was the ‘first complete review of an airline joint venture proposal by the Administration’. The department also asked the airlines to submit annual reports on the progress of their commercial venture, and a detailed assessment after seven years. The DOT added it would mark the third joint venture in the United States-Australasia market.
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Post the approval, Qantas will launch two new flights from the Australian city Brisbane to United States’ Chicago and San Francisco by the end of April 2020, the company said. The new routes, that were announced last month, will be served by Qantas’ Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. The airline also plans to add over 170,000 seats across the Pacific every year.
Moreover, Qantas and American Airlines will increase codeshare services to each other’s current international flights between Australia and the United States.
