Brisbane Airport urges US Department of Transportation to approve American-Qantas agreement

Brisbane Airport requested (19-Mar-2018) the US Department of Transportation approve the proposed joint business agreement between American Airlines and Qantas Airways. The airport stated outbound Australian demand for travel to the US has grown significantly over the past five years at 5% p/a, and "codeshare agreements such as this" offer "real benefits" to consumers and encourage repeat travel. Brisbane Airport highlighted the US is the largest import market for the city, and expanded links will further facilitate growth. Reject of the proposal could lead to a decline in existing capacity, the airport added, which would "ensure not only the loss of growth potential, but decline from current levels". [more - original PR]