Australia's International Air Services Commission (IASC) varied (19-Apr-2017) Determination [2007] IASC 118 to permit the capacity entitlements on the New Zealand route to be used for codeshare services between Air Canada and Virgin Australia. IASC added the following conditions:
- The capacity may be used by Virgin Australia for code share services with Air Canada to be conducted in accordance with Australia's air services arrangements with New Zealand and the codeshare agreement between Virgin Australia and Air Canada dated 01-Apr2017;
- Virgin Australia must apply to the Commission for approval of the use of the capacity if there are variations to the codeshare arrangement which would change the relevant commercial aspects of the codeshare arrangement from a freesale codeshare arrangement to a block space, or viceversa, or if Virgin Australia proposes to add third country routes on which the airlines will codeshare where Australian capacity will be used for services on the route;
- To the extent that the capacity is used to provide codeshare services on the route, the airlines must take all reasonable steps to ensure that passengers are informed, at the time of booking, of the carrier actually operating the flight. Nothing in this determination exempts the airlines from complying with the Australian Consumer Law.
Under the Australia-New Zealand air services arrangements, there is unlimited capacity for Australian carriers to operate scheduled passenger and freight services between Australia and New Zealand, via and beyond to third countries. [more - original PR]