Article: What Are Air Services Agreements?

[AFF Editor]

What Are Air Services Agreements? is an article written by the AFF editorial team:

What Are Air Services Agreements?

Air services agreements are bilateral treaties between countries that specify how many flights and what routes airlines from both countries can operate into the other country.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

 

[Himeno]

and the agreement between Australia and France only allows for three flights per week. This is one reason that has been cited for Qantas deciding not to fly to Paris.

That's not quite right.
The agreement with France has 3 different "routes", such that New Caledonia has a different limit to mainland France.

The cap to mainland France is 3.0 "units", not flights. A "unit" is based on the number of seats on the aircraft used. An aircraft with over 400 seats is 1 "unit".
The Qantas config of 236 seats on a 787 would fall into the 0.5 unit range, which would allow for 6 flights/week.

 

[AFF Editor]

That's not quite right.
The agreement with France has 3 different "routes", such that New Caledonia has a different limit to mainland France.

The cap to mainland France is 3.0 "units", not flights. A "unit" is based on the number of seats on the aircraft used. An aircraft with over 400 seats is 1 "unit".
The Qantas config of 236 seats on a 787 would fall into the 0.5 unit range, which would allow for 6 flights/week.

Good pick up. I've removed that from the article.

Interestingly, the register of available capacity says that "currently there is no capacity available" on Route 1.

Route 1
3.0 units of capacity per week in each direction.

The designated airlines of Australia may enter into arrangements with other airlines, including airlines of third countries, to undertake services through code share, blocked space or other joint venture arrangements - currently there is no capacity available..

 

[Mwenenzi]

In addition Australia- New Zealand is a single aviation market (SAM)

Trans-Tasman - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Memorandum of Understanding 1992
In 1996, Australia and New Zealand agreed to create a single market for air transport that was distinct from the previous agreements which were more restrictive. Some notable changes that affect Trans-Tasman travel include allowing Australia and New Zealand to operate in each other's domestic markets.[19]

This was followed by an endorsement of the open skies agreement under the International Civil Aviation Organization in 2007 which further allowed Australia and New Zealand's international flights to operate in each other's domains beyond to third countries without restriction.[19]

Hence

• QF flying AKL to USA
• Air NZ owning and operating a domestic airline in Australia - Ansett (RIP),
• Qantas group operating domestic airlines in NZ. Initially QF and then JQ
• Virgin Au operating NZ domestic flights 2007-2010 Virgin Australia Airlines (NZ) - Wikipedia

In addition allows non AU NZ airlines to operate trans Tasman. Without restriction?? Currently LATAM, EK, CI, Air Asia, Batik Air PER-AKL (needs a check- changes from time to time). QR Qatar was flying AKL-ADL and SIN was flying WLG-CBR.

Other links

Why only some airlines are allowed to fly in and out of Australia

A lack of transparency around the decision to block Qatar from increasing flights to Australia highlight that not all landing rights are created equal.

www.afr.com

ParlInfo - QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE : Single Aviation Market Between Australia and New Zealand

Search engine for Australian parliamentary documents and media.

parlinfo.aph.gov.au

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

D7 Air Asia X is still a good one, even though LCC, but their J cabin is quite cheap AKL - SYD.
Dep is quite late in the day, so gives enough time to finish what you have to do in AKL and then get to airport 16.30 to get the 18.xx flight AKL - SYD.

 

[Himeno]

Good pick up. I've removed that from the article.

Interestingly, the register of available capacity says that "currently there is no capacity available" on Route 1.

That's no capacity for more codeshares.

 

[oz_mark]

That's no capacity for more codeshares.

The capacity.is allocated to Qantas to codeshare on Air France services, and Virgin to codeshare on Qatar services.

 

[Himeno]

The agreement allows for 400 seats per day for codeshare services to mainland France. Qantas has 250 seats for codeshares on Air France, British Airways and Emirates.
Virgin has the remaining 150 seats for codeshares on Qatar Airways and Singapore Airways.

 

[ethernet]

Part of competition is MORE than just ticket price. Terms and fees for changes are super important, and there is a cartel operating to keep these high. I fly a USA based airline, and most only charge the difference or nothing. I will never fly QF having been burnt badly . Next remember the ACCC fining airlines including our own for airfreight price collusion. Not sure if there were other past occurrence's or quiet 'deals'. Thirdly Qatar has a very large food relief program aimed at getting grain to African countries - otherwise they would get about nothing. This is a big deal where black lives do matter. As for the QF buyback - with share futures and options etc, I say they should be on their own now - no crutches needed. Finally, all the hoo-haa HAS caused economic damage - and their is no straight explanation. Ministers have advisors, and I wait to read what that advise was - before it was sent back for editing. I notice SA ad Rio flights are heavily 'protected' as if we are in a 1980 timewarp.

I think Qatar is bonkers for addiing new capacity - but the real question is why as Sing and AirNZ not piled in. An outside observer must suspect collusion of sorts.

 

[Himeno]

I think Qatar is bonkers for addiing new capacity - but the real question is why as Sing and AirNZ not piled in. An outside observer must suspect collusion of sorts.

Singapore and New Zealand have open skies treaties with Australia, allowing their international airlines to fly to any location in Australia as much or as little as they want.
I wonder why they don't care about some other nation not getting more capacity under a bilateral treaty they are not party to.

 

[ethernet]

Several possible reasons. They assume the minister of the day will be promoting tourism and jobs, first, above everything else - unless there are major trade deals afoot. Qatar may be choked and unblocked if they buy more wheat and wine for instance. It may be if refused, QF will have a stronger hand at leasing planes and the swap rate, then say yes to Q after a deal struck. Or it may be an election coming up - and donations may vary .... If I was Qatar, I would be building an LPG import hub in Victoria to cover the East coast gas price ripoff and looming shortage. What does not wash is QF saying they are a good employer - The High Court has spoken. Not sure how illegally sacked people can be compensated 2 years of super at QF super earning rates, compounded, including buyback rights, and tax free status. Lets hope restitution is full, including the fact not paying super is now very much illegal. Lets also hopes QF sues its legal advisor for that move, silly.

 

[evanb]

Blog post on the implications of the Qatar decision:

Analytic Flying | Substack

Independent Objective Verifiable. Click to read Analytic Flying, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.

analyticflying.com

 

[dajop]

In addition Australia- New Zealand is a single aviation market (SAM)

Trans-Tasman - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Hence

• QF flying AKL to USA
• Air NZ owning and operating a domestic airline in Australia - Ansett (RIP),
• Qantas group operating domestic airlines in NZ. Initially QF and then JQ
• Virgin Au operating NZ domestic flights 2007-2010 Virgin Australia Airlines (NZ) - Wikipedia

And at one point NZ used to fly a daily SYD-LAX non-stop as well, prior to the AN collapse.

 

[Himeno]

Australia has just signed open skies agreements with Canada and Malaysia, starting in 2026.
In the meantime, the current air service agreements have been increased from 9000 seats/weekly to the 4 major ports to 50 flights weekly for Canada and from 36,000 weekly seats to 50,000 for Malaysia.

The Hong Kong air service agreement has also increased from 70 flights weekly to 84 and the Chile agreement doubled to 8000 weekly seats.

 

[henrus]

he Chile agreement doubled to 8000 weekly seats.

This is good but lets figure out the visa issue with them!