Confirmed : Etihad Airways Gone by Late 2025 (Regardless of Qatar tie-up)

[Bagpuss]

https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/public-registers/documents/Virgin%20Australia%20and%20Qatar%20Airways%20-%20Response%20to%20interested%20party%20submissions%20-%2013.11.24%20-%20PR%20VERSION%20-%20AA1000679%20Virgin%20Qatar.pdf?ref=0&download=y

"Etihad Airways will cease to be a Velocity partner and, with or without the Proposed Conduct, Virgin Australia does not codeshare on Etihad Airways’
services. Further clarifications on the changes that will be made are provided below."

"Virgin Australia will in late 2025, terminate its limited remaining partnership with Etihad Airways"

 

[SYD]

Going with it will arguably be the best status recognition perk of a VA partner and 1st Lounge access in AUH for VA WPs.

QR will not replicate that. Off to the DOH Platinum lounge unless stumping up for F/J (but beware the “Lite” Biz fares or it’s back to the Plat / Gold lounge).

Hopefully EY will swing back to QF….

 

[Bagpuss]

Going with it will arguably be the best status recognition perk of a VA partner and 1st Lounge access in AUH for VA WPs.

QR will not replicate that. Off to the DOH Platinum lounge unless stumping up for F/J (but beware the “Lite” Biz fares or it’s back to the Plat / Gold lounge).

Hopefully EY will swing back to QF….

Qantas is exclusive with Emirates. Probably of Qantas ditching Emirates for Etihad or interlining with Etihad would be about 0.0000000000000000000000000%

 

[HS-TQE]

If the EY/EK alliance does ever come to fruitiion, let alone a EK acquisition of EY, there may be a very slim chance of EY (under the umbrella of EK) partnering with QF. But until then, EY are limited to interlines with the Australian carriers when their unilateral partnership with VA ends in late 2025.

 

[SYD]

Qantas is exclusive with Emirates. Probably of Qantas ditching Emirates for Etihad or interlining with Etihad would be about 0.0000000000000000000000000%

Yeah, I wasn’t suggesting that and the EK/EY merger is off the table now but they are “working together”.

EY will still need a local feeder. Currently VA and JQ.

 

[Bagpuss]

Yeah, I wasn’t suggesting that and the EK/EY merger is off the table now but they are “working together”.

EY will still need a local feeder. Currently VA and JQ.

Probably interline with JQ.

 

[HS-TQE]

Yeah, I wasn’t suggesting that and the EK/EY merger is off the table now but they are “working together”.

EY will still need a local feeder. Currently VA and JQ.

Apparently per reports elsewhere such as a.net, most of the EY services out of SYD and MEL were largely local originating O&D out of both cities. That suggests feed from elsewhere for EY would be minimal at best.

EY's interline with VA and JQ will suffice for them for the handful coming down from BNE/Rest of Queensland or ADL.

 

[odysseus]

Interesting how the submission admits they made a mistake in their previous submission, regarding changes to Singapore Air, and Virgin Atlantic and SAA.

Yet just calls it a "misunderstanding by respondents to their submission." Yeah, right.

 

[Bagpuss]

Interesting how the submission admits they made a mistake in their previous submission, regarding changes to Singapore Air, and Virgin Atlantic and SAA.

Yet just calls it a "misunderstanding by respondents to their submission." Yeah, right.

SIA I understand in part as Singapore isn't Middle East and a confusing relationship.

VA and SAA, yup that was 100% a mistake IMHO.

 

[VPS]

The title suggests that Etihad will disappear completely

 

[Bagpuss]

The title suggests that Etihad will disappear completely

Yes, gone as a Velocity partner. (This is a Velocity forum.)