Qantas welcomes interim authorisation for enhanced alliance with American Airlines

Qantas customers will soon be able to start booking direct flights to San Francisco for travel from 18 December 2015.

This follows interim authorisation from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) for the continuation and enhancement of the Qantas and American Airlines relationship announced in early June.

Qantas International CEO Gareth Evans welcomed the ACCC’s decision as it will enable customers to book the airline’s new direct flights from Sydney to San Francisco and reach their destination faster.

“The feedback from our customers since we announced the expansion of the Qantas and American Airlines alliance has been fantastic,” said Mr Evans.

“They are thrilled we are returning to San Francisco, which is the most popular onward destination for Qantas’ customers travelling to the U.S."

“Our corporate customers in particular have told us they look forward to saving about four hours each way by not having to connect through Los Angeles.”

Qantas’ San-Francisco services will initially operate on peak days^ and ramp up to six per week in January 2016 using its newer Boeing 747-400 aircraft with similar interiors found on the airline’s A380s.

Qantas’ flights to San Francisco are made possible by American Airlines starting a direct daily Sydney-Los Angeles service from 19 December 2015. This will replace four of Qantas’ B747 Sydney-Los Angeles services per week and one Qantas B747 Melbourne-Los Angeles service per week.

Today’s decision also allows Qantas to begin selling new codeshare services operated by American Airlines on the Sydney-Los Angeles route using their state of the art B777-300ER aircraft.

Qantas and American Airlines are now working to finalise the schedule of new services with fares available in coming weeks.

^ Services will initially operate on peak days and ramp up to six per week in January from 27 January 2016. Sydney-San Francisco services will not operate on 23rd, 24th, 25th and 31st December 2015.

sourced:traveldailynews.asia