The ACCC proposes to authorise coordination between British Airways, Qatar Airways and Iberia

The ACCC has issued a draft determination proposing to grant authorisation AA1000630 to enable British Airways plc, Qatar Airways Group Q.C.S.C. and Iberia Líneas Aéreas de España (Iberia) to coordinate air passenger services on routes between Australia and the UK/Europe for a period of 5 years.

In 2020 the ACCC granted authorisation to enable British Airways and Qatar Airways to coordinate air passenger services on routes between Australia and the UK/Europe which includes a UK-Doha leg (but excludes any routes where Sydney is the origin or destination port, e.g. the Sydney-London route). British Airways and Qatar Airways, in conjunction with Iberia, now intend to enter into an expanded joint business agreement, which would increase levels of cooperation and geographic coverage including routes where Sydney is the origin or destination port, e.g. the Sydney-London route.

The ACCC considers the proposed conduct would be likely to result in public benefits in the form of enhanced product and services offerings, cost savings and efficiencies and increased competition. The ACCC considers that the arrangements would be unlikely to result in material public detriment due to the competition from other international airlines on the routes between Australia and UK/Europe.

The ACCC has also granted interim authorisation to enable the proposed arrangements to commence while the ACCC considers the substantive application.

The ACCC is seeking submissions from interested parties on the draft determination by 17 April 2023.

Further information about the ACCC's draft determination and interim authorisation, and how to make a submission on the draft determination, is available on the ACCC public register at British Airways, Qatar Airways and Iberia.

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