The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACC) would block a five-year deal between Qantas and Japan Airlines on pricing, scheduling, and code-sharing as it would likely result in higher passenger fares.
Qantas claims the agreement would hasten the pandemic recovery and better serve customers by improving connections between Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.
But Australia's competition regulator insists that the cooperation would eliminate competition for passengers between Qantas and Japan Airlines.
Before the pandemic, Qantas and Japan Airlines dominated the market for flights between Tokyo and Sydney, and Melbourne.
While Australia's regulator was open to granting exceptions to aid airlines' recovery, it would not allow reducing competition in the long term.
ACCC Chair Rod Sims said they would only authorize agreements if the coordination benefits the public and outweigh the harm to competition.
At this point, the ACC does not consider that the proposal passes that test.


China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears
Spain’s Industrial Output Records Steady Growth in October Amid Revised September Figures
Citi Sets Bullish 2026 Target for STOXX 600 as Fiscal Support and Monetary Easing Boost Outlook
Asian Currencies Edge Higher as Markets Look to Fed Rate Cut; Rupee Steadies Near Record Lows
U.S. Futures Steady as Rate-Cut Bets Rise on Soft Labor Data
Oil Prices Hold Steady as Ukraine Tensions and Fed Cut Expectations Support Market
Dollar Holds Steady as Markets Shift Focus to 2026 Rate Cut Expectations
Asian Currencies Steady as Markets Await Fed Rate Decision; Indian Rupee Hits New Record Low
Australia’s Economic Growth Slows in Q3 Despite Strong Investment Activity
China’s Services Sector Posts Slowest Growth in Five Months as Demand Softens
BOJ Governor Ueda Highlights Uncertainty Over Future Interest Rate Hikes
Asia’s IPO Market Set for Strong Growth as China and India Drive Investor Diversification
European Stocks Rise as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data
Dollar Slides to Five-Week Low as Asian Stocks Struggle and Markets Bet on Fed Rate Cut
Japan’s Nikkei Drops as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data
Gold Prices Steady as Markets Await Key U.S. Data and Expected Fed Rate Cut 



