Australian watchdog blocks Qantas-Japan Airlines deal

Australia's contention regulator connected Monday definitively blocked a pricing, code-sharing and scheduling woody betwixt Qantas and Japan Airlines, saying the statement would wounded consumers.

The woody would person seen the 2 airlines coordinate connected however overmuch fares would cost, arsenic good arsenic flight schedules.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission ruled the connection would "remove competition" betwixt 2 carriers that usually relationship for 85 percent of flights betwixt Australia and Japan.

It had earlier indicated a rejection was likely, but airlines hard-hit by pandemic question disruptions had hoped, successful vain, for a reprieve.

"The statement would apt pb to reduced contention arsenic planetary question resumes, to the detriment of passengers travelling betwixt Australia and Japan," the watchdog said.

Australia closed its planetary borders 18 months agone to trim the dispersed of the coronavirus. Travel betwixt the country's major cities has been disrupted repeatedly during that time, hammering the bottommost lines of carriers.

Qantas expressed "disappointment" astatine the decision, saying the woody would person helped "ensure a faster and sustained betterment from COVID".

Australia's borders are expected to dilatory reopen for vaccinated travellers from aboriginal this year.

Qantas past period reported revenues had fallen Aus$12 cardinal (US$9 billion) successful the past fiscal twelvemonth arsenic question dried up.

The institution received much than a cardinal dollars successful payer assistance and has furloughed thousands of workers.

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© 2021 AFP