US DOT blocking QF/AA JV - QF/AA resubmit

[Himeno]

We’ve seen it with dubai, with EK pulling out of trans-tasman.

Part of the ACCC approval for the EK/QF JV was that trans tasman capacity must remain the same as before the JV or increase. EK reducing AU-NZ flying means QF has to increase.

 

[Mattg]

I'm all for the QF/AA anti-trust immunity being granted. But I don't think QF will reduce flights to DFW (or anywhere else) if the joint venture is not approved. I think they're bluffing.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Part of the ACCC approval for the EK/QF JV was that trans tasman capacity must remain the same as before the JV or increase. EK reducing AU-NZ flying means QF has to increase.

I accept the point, but for how long till we get the 'our planes are empty, we're losing money, we need to down-gauge'?

Just out of interest, what's happened to fares now EK is pulling out? Have QF's fares (especially for J class) matched EK's previous offerings, or are they higher?

 

[serfty]

Qantas and American have submitted their Joint Reply:

JOINT REPLY OF AMERICAN AIRLINES, INC. AND QANTAS AIRWAYS LIMITED

American Airlines, Inc. (“American”) and Qantas Airways Limited (“Qantas”) submit this Joint Reply to the Answers filed in accordance with the Department’s November 1, 2018 Notice Establishing Procedural Schedule. In the nine months since the Parties filed their Joint Application in February 2018, the Parties have submitted extensive data, documents, and information about the Proposed Joint Business (“Proposed JBA”). In June 2018, the Department issued a detailed request to the Parties to supplement the record, and in August 2018 the Parties provided a comprehensive response to that request, including additional data and documents. The Department opened the docket for Answers on November 1, 2018, which were due on November 23, 2018. The public record in this matter is voluminous, and now complete. And the message from that record is unambiguous: ...

American and Qantas ATI - Joint Reply of American and Qantas: https://airlineinfo.com/ostpdf103/171.pdf

 

[serfty]

American-Qantas joint venture approval may slip to early 2019

American-Qantas joint venture approval may slip to early 2019

• 05 DECEMBER, 2018 SOURCE: FLIGHT DASHBOARD BY: EDWARD RUSSELL NEW YORK

US approval of the proposed joint venture between American Airlines and Qantas Airways could slip a few months to early 2019, says Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce.

The Oneworld Alliance carriers are "very optimistic" that the tie-up will get a nod from antitrust regulators but, with the Christmas and New Year holidays imminent, approval may not come until early in the new year, he tells FlightGlobal on the sidelines of an alliance event in New York today. ...

 

[williamsf1]

Qantas and American have submitted their Joint Reply:



American and Qantas ATI - Joint Reply of American and Qantas: https://airlineinfo.com/ostpdf103/171.pdf

Interesting read...

Wonder what DL/VA and UA have to say .... seems only JetBlue are mentioned as responding

 

[Melburnian1]

Interesting that 85 per cent of QF7/QF8 passengers are connecting to or from other flights at the USA end.

Doesn't say much for Texas as a standalone destination. Looks similar to what SQ must experience with many Oz flights into and out of Changi.

Given various airlines' (including Qantas') record with regards to air freight, eventually seeing some fined millions of dollars, I have difficulty believing that 'traveller benefits' would arise from this JV being approved.

 

[Danger]

Interesting that 85 per cent of QF7/QF8 passengers are connecting to or from other flights at the USA end.

Doesn't say much for Texas as a standalone destination. Looks similar to what SQ must experience with many Oz flights into and out of Changi.

I haven't read the submission but I wouldn't be surprised if those numbers were reversed for AA, whereby only 15% of passengers continue on Qantas beyond Sydney.

 

[madrooster]

I haven't read the submission but I wouldn't be surprised if those numbers were reversed for AA, whereby only 15% of passengers continue on Qantas beyond Sydney.

There's also a lot of US pax I notice that don't ticket to their final destination and buy separate QF domestics on separate bookings. They wouldn't be that large in number though.

 

[snabbu]

Interesting that 85 per cent of QF7/QF8 passengers are connecting to or from other flights at the USA end.

Seems right on the money to me. Dallas Fort Worth is hardly a tourist mecca compared to dozens of other US destinations which are all one stop ex-SYD, then similarly in reverse on 8.

 

[serfty]

Dallas Fort Worth is hardly a tourist mecca

Nor is LAX.

dozens of other US destinations which are all one stop ex-SYD

There'd be scores if not more of such 1 stop destinations ex SYD.

 

[snabbu]

Nor is LAX.

There'd be scores if not more of such 1 stop destinations ex SYD.

I'd argue LAX and Los Angeles in general would attract far more people that Dallas Fort Worth, business and leisure. However I'm replying to QF7/8 which has nothing to do with LAX.

 

[Isochronous]

There's also a lot of US pax I notice that don't ticket to their final destination and buy separate QF domestics on separate bookings. They wouldn't be that large in number though.

Any idea why that is?

 

[madrooster]

Any idea why that is?

AA's site is woeful at showing anything beyond AA-only itineraries. I see the same on routes like SYD-JNB where pax buy a JNB-CPT separately for example.

 

[Melburnian1]

AA's site is woeful at showing anything beyond AA-only itineraries. I see the same on routes like SYD-JNB where pax buy a JNB-CPT separately for example.

That must, for Oz, cost extra because of the historic 'common rating' often applied to international tickets for SYD, MEL and BNE (with a minor adjustment for differing taxes).

 

[airbound]

American-Qantas joint venture approval may slip to early 2019

Has anybody heard anything further on when a decision might be likely to come? 'Early 2019' has arguably passed, or nearly passed!

I know that the US government was shut down for a number of weeks. I guess that has had an impact...

 

[jpp42]

Interesting that 85 per cent of QF7/QF8 passengers are connecting to or from other flights at the USA end.

That number could be even higher. I'm a big fan of QF7/8 as I fly 1-2 times per year to various east coast destinations, but I typically book the domestic leg separately as I find the QF/AA joint fares to be uneconomic compared to booking the AA sector separately. So QF may have me profiled as enjoying Texas but nothing could be further from the truth!

 

[serfty]

Please continue discussion here: US DOT Grants Tentative Approval to QF/AA Joint Venture