American and Qantas Revive Push for Joint Venture

American Airlines and its Oneworld partner Qantas have submitted another application to form a joint-venture business. The two airlines tried to increase ties in 2016 but were denied their application by the US Department of Transportation on grounds that the move would hurt competition.

According to American's press release, the joint venture would lead to lower fares and will "give American and Qantas the opportunity to launch additional routes between the U.S. and Australia and New Zealand."

American released this fact sheet with the relationship's potential benefits and included new research that the DOT required when they first rejected the application.

Joint ventures allow carriers to form a partnership that allows them to act almost as one airline (on certain routes). They would be able to coordinate flight schedules, expand codesharing and make it easier to book connecting flights.

The relationship will produce "more than $300 million in annual consumer benefits, $221 million in expanded codesharing and improved connectivity, and up to $89 million in lower fares from more efficient pricing," according to the fact sheet.

American already has joint ventures with British Airways, Finnair and Iberia on transatlantic routes and with Japan Airlines on transpacific routes. Qantas and American already codeshare on some of their flights, and if approved, this move would drastically increase that.

Daily Newsletter

Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter

Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts

Email address

Sign up

By signing up, you will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.

The airlines threatened to end some of their services and "further reduce codesharing" if they aren't approved. American's statement included these examples:

Qantas may be forced to reduce the frequency of, downgauge or potentially cancel its A380 service between Sydney and Dallas/Fort Worth, and American may further reduce its services between Los Angeles and Sydney and Auckland. These routes rely on codeshare support from each airline's feeder network via their respective hub cities to be economically viable.

If Qantas and American's plan is approved, it would essentially remove one less competitor on those routes — and less competition typically means higher fares. Only United, Delta and Virgin Australia operate nonstop service between the US and Australia — and Delta and Virgin already formed a joint venture in 2011.