Qantas and China Eastern Airlines apply to ACCC for Extended Joint Coordination Agreement

Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) stated (31-Jul-2020) Qantas Airways and China Eastern Airlines applied for revocation of conditional authorisations A91470 and A91474 and substitution for a new authorisation for similar conduct, administered through an Extended Joint Coordination Agreement until Mar-2022. The Extended Joint Coordination Agreement would permit Qantas and China Eastern Airlines to continue their alliance and coordinate on operations between Australia and mainland China beyond 31-Oct-2020, when authorisations A91470 and A91474 are due to expire. The applicants have requested that the new authorisation issue without conditions requiring the maintenance or growth of flight capacity during the authorisation period due to the current and future impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The applicants have also sought urgent interim authorisation to facilitate the immediate planning and coordination of services that will be operated after 31-Oct-2020. [more - original PR]