How Australians could soon be flying to the US for MUCH  less:

How Australians could soon be flying to the US for MUCH less: New Qantas and American Airlines partnership signals more destinations and lower fares

  • The joint ventures means the airlines can provide new routes and reduced fares 
  • Two new routes will include flights from Brisbane to Chicago and San Francisco
  • US Department of Transportation approved the deal after it was rejected in 2016

Australians could be flying to the US for far less after joint venture between Qantas and American Airlines. 

The new development will see the two airlines can coordinate to deliver new routes, more destinations, reduced travel times, additional benefits for frequent flyers and lower fares.  

Approval of the joint venture was finally approved after initially being rejected by the US Department of Transportation (DOT) in 2016.

The approval of the joint venture means the two airlines can coordinate to deliver new routes, more destinations, reduced travel times, additional benefits for frequent flyers and lower fares (stock photo)

American Airlines welcomed the news and said to CNET that it will ‘offer more products that will better serve customers flying between the United States and Australia and New Zealand.’

‘We now have the opportunity to launch new routes and provide enhanced service with better schedules, additional frequent flyer benefits and continued investments in the overall customer experience,’ said Doug Parker, CEO of American. 

Qantas agreed with Mr Parker and said it welcomes the new partnership. 

‘Qantas has today welcomed the United States Department of Transportation’s final approval of its joint business with American Airlines, to better serve customers travelling between North America, Australia and New Zealand,’ Qantas said in a statement. 

American Airlines welcomed the approval of the joint venture and said it will ‘offer more products that will better serve customers flying between the United States and Australia and New Zealand’ (stock photo)

Qantas also stated they will open more routes, starting with direct flights from Brisbane to San Francisco and Chicago. 

These two routes are expected to launch by the end of April 2020 and will add more than 1700,00 seats across the Pacific each year.

‘The schedule for Qantas’ Brisbane-Chicago and Brisbane-San Francisco flights is being finalised, with fares available for sale soon,’ Qantas said. 

The previous application for a joint venture was rejected in November 2016 by former president Barack Obama’s DOT. 

Qantas stated they will open more routes, starting with direct flights from Brisbane to San Francisco and Chicago. These two routes are expected to launch by the end of April 2020 and will add more than 1700,00 seats across the Pacific each year  (stock photo)

Qantas stated they will open more routes, starting with direct flights from Brisbane to San Francisco and Chicago. These two routes are expected to launch by the end of April 2020 and will add more than 1700,00 seats across the Pacific each year  (stock photo)

The DOT concluded after a 17-month review that the venture would harm consumers as it would reduce competition and choice. 

The two airlines made a second attempt in February 2018 and threatened to cancel their services if it was rejected.  

Though the US DOT has approved the recent application, both airlines are required to perform a self-assessment of the joint venture’s impact on their competitors seven years after it is implemented.

Both airlines must present a report of their findings to the government.  

Though the US DOT has approved the recent application, both airlines are required to perform a self-assessment of the joint venture's impact on their competitors seven years after it is implemented and must present their findings to the government (stock photo)

Though the US DOT has approved the recent application, both airlines are required to perform a self-assessment of the joint venture’s impact on their competitors seven years after it is implemented and must present their findings to the government (stock photo)

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk