Virgin Australia has gained interim authorisation to cooperate with Virgin Atlantic on flights between Australia and the United Kingdom/Ireland, via Hong Kong, Los Angeles and any other future mutual connecting points.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has granted interim authorisation for Virgin Australia to cooperate with Virgin Atlantic on that broad basis.
The ACCC noted that while the two airlines are separate businesses, they already have a codeshare arrangement which allows them to market flights on planes flown by the other.
Authorisation will allow the two airlines to coordinate on a wide range of matters such as jointly managing prices, inventory, and marketing strategies, which would not currently be permitted in their existing arm’s-length commercial codeshare and loyalty arrangements.
Virgin Australia and Virgin Atlantic do not currently operate flights on any of the relevant routes.
“We do not think this enhanced cooperation is likely to lessen competition on the routes between Australia and the British Isles,” ACCC Commissioner Sarah Court said.
Virgin Australia A330-200
Interim authorisation will remain in effect while the ACCC considers the application for authorisation in more detail, with a draft determination, which will be open for public comment, expected by September.
The ACCC’s interim authorisation statement of reasons is available at Virgin Australia and Virgin Atlantic.
Background: Authorisation provides statutory protection from court action for conduct that might otherwise raise concerns under the competition provisions of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. Broadly, the ACCC may grant an authorisation when it is satisfied that the public benefit from the conduct outweighs any public detriment.
Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787-9, on approach to London Heathrow Airport
Edited by Peter Needham
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