Qantas codeshare with Cathay to foster competition, expand route options on behind/beyond networks

11 February, 2019

Qantas provided (11-Feb-2019) additional information to the International Air Services Commission regarding its codeshare proposal with Cathay Pacific on the Australia-Hong Kong routes. Highlights of the codeshare proposal include:

  • Only allow codeshare seats to be sold in conjunction with through journeys to behind/beyond destinations, and will not permit each carrier to sell codeshare airfares solely between Australia and Hong Kong;
  • Foster increased selling competition and expansion of consumer choice through providing more route options on each carrier's respective behind/beyond networks. This includes the ability for Cathay to sell on select Qantas services from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to Hong Kong when sold as a through journey to Cathay's own network from Hong Kong or Qantas' domestic Australia network;
  • Provide both carriers an improved ability to market complex itineraries under a single marketing airline code. Eligible customers continue to receive standard oneworld alliance benefits when travelling on either carrier, including lounge access, priority check in and boarding, priority baggage, increased baggage allowances and tier status recognition;
  • Encourage greater competition with the expanded range of behind/beyond codeshare routes now marketable by each carrier to independently sell under a single code for an entire journey;
  • Provide additional travel options to consumers travelling on behind/beyond itineraries, such as marketing Chicago O'Hare-Wagga Wagga route using a combination of Cathay equipment on Chicago-Hong Kong service and Qantas equipment on Hong Kong-Sydney-Wagga Wagga under 'CX' code for the entire route in direct competition with Qantas. [more - original PR]