The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has granted authorisation to British Airways (BA, London Heathrow) and Qatar Airways (QR, Doha Hamad International) for five years to coordinate air passenger services on routes between Australia and the UK/Europe. The two carriers sought approval in January to cooperate on routes beyond and behind their respective hubs in London Heathrow and Doha Hamad International.

The routes are between four Australian cities - namely Adelaide International, Canberra, Melbourne Airport, and Perth International - and the UK/Europe, and operate via Doha. Sydney Kingsford Smith is an online point for both carriers and is therefore not included in the agreement. The four Australian cities are all offline for BA, and it currently offers connections to these destinations through its codeshare with Qantas (QF, Sydney Kingsford Smith). The Australia-Doha legs of the routes are currently operated by Qatar Airways, but not by BA. According to the ch-aviation Commercial Aviation Operator Schedule Data module for the week commencing August 17, Qatar Airways flies daily to all four Australian cities, although its service to Canberra operates via Sydney.

The joint application focussed on the nine routes which were identified as having passenger volumes above a minimum threshold, these were:

  • Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth and Canberra to London;
  • Adelaide, Melbourne, and Perth to Manchester;
  • Melbourne and Perth to Edinburgh.

In making its decision the commission said: "The ACCC considers that BA and Qater Airways coordinating air passenger services on routes between Australia and the UK/Europe is likely to result in public benefits in the form of enhanced products and services. There is likely to be minimal detriment to the public, with strong competitors remaining on the routes in question."