ACCC knocks back Air NZ/VB Merger
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I heard today that the ACCC has now knocked back the VB/Etihad partnership/alliance/codeshare (whatever it is being called this week).
Does anyone have any information to confirm or refute this?
Does anyone have any information to confirm or refute this?
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ebt is correct when he says that Oakape is incorrect
BRISBANE 23 SEPTEMBER 2010: The Virgin Blue Group is pleased to announce that it has
received interim approval from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)
for its alliance with Etihad Airways.
Virgin Blue Group CEO and Managing Director John Borghetti said the approval by the ACCC
meant the airlines would commence selling airfares between Australia and Abu Dhabi with
connections on Etihad’s extensive network from 1 October.
“The Virgin Blue Group of Airlines will now be able to deliver an alternative and competitive
network to the Middle East, Europe, United Kingdom and beyond.
“This is an important milestone as we create a global international network, greater
competition on the international landscape and benefit our guests with great value fares,
better scheduling and more choice.
Together, Etihad and V Australia will move towards a total of 27 weekly services between Abu
Dhabi and Australia – including double-daily services between Abu Dhabi and Sydney, daily
Melbourne-Abu Dhabi flights and six frequencies per week between Abu Dhabi and Brisbane.
Subject to obtaining final regulatory approval from the ACCC, V Australia will operate three
Sydney-Abu Dhabi services per week from February 2011 and three Brisbane-Abu Dhabi
services per week from February 2012, using its new fleet of three-class Boeing 777-300ER and
becoming the first Australian carrier to operate to the Middle East since 1991.
From 1 October, Virgin Blue Group customers can access Etihad’s network of 65 destinations
across North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Subcontinent. All Virgin Blue
Group services will be available to Etihad customers, opening up 45 destinations in Australia,
New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, and to Asia and Los Angeles.
The alliance also integrates the Etihad Guest and Velocity frequent flyer programs, allowing
members to earn status/tier points and frequent flyer points immediately along with reciprocal
service benefits and lounge access for top tier members of both programs. The ability for
members to burn miles on both carriers’ services comes into effect from 1 October.
received interim approval from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)
for its alliance with Etihad Airways.
Virgin Blue Group CEO and Managing Director John Borghetti said the approval by the ACCC
meant the airlines would commence selling airfares between Australia and Abu Dhabi with
connections on Etihad’s extensive network from 1 October.
“The Virgin Blue Group of Airlines will now be able to deliver an alternative and competitive
network to the Middle East, Europe, United Kingdom and beyond.
“This is an important milestone as we create a global international network, greater
competition on the international landscape and benefit our guests with great value fares,
better scheduling and more choice.
Together, Etihad and V Australia will move towards a total of 27 weekly services between Abu
Dhabi and Australia – including double-daily services between Abu Dhabi and Sydney, daily
Melbourne-Abu Dhabi flights and six frequencies per week between Abu Dhabi and Brisbane.
Subject to obtaining final regulatory approval from the ACCC, V Australia will operate three
Sydney-Abu Dhabi services per week from February 2011 and three Brisbane-Abu Dhabi
services per week from February 2012, using its new fleet of three-class Boeing 777-300ER and
becoming the first Australian carrier to operate to the Middle East since 1991.
From 1 October, Virgin Blue Group customers can access Etihad’s network of 65 destinations
across North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Subcontinent. All Virgin Blue
Group services will be available to Etihad customers, opening up 45 destinations in Australia,
New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, and to Asia and Los Angeles.
The alliance also integrates the Etihad Guest and Velocity frequent flyer programs, allowing
members to earn status/tier points and frequent flyer points immediately along with reciprocal
service benefits and lounge access for top tier members of both programs. The ability for
members to burn miles on both carriers’ services comes into effect from 1 October.
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Ruling threat to 'Air NZ's future'
7:20 AM Thursday Sep 23, 2010
Air New Zealand chief executive Rob Fyfe says the Australian competition watchdog's draft determination to block an alliance with Virgin Blue Holdings Ltd would threaten the airline's future.
"If we are to earn the right to continue to fly and grow, then the deal with Virgin Blue is a central plank of that strategy," Fyfe said at a National Aviation Press Club lunch in Sydney yesterday.
"Obviously the ACCC's [Australian Competition and Consumer Commission] preliminary finding represents a threat to this strategy, in effect, a threat to our future."
Virgin Blue and Air New Zealand hope to form an alliance on transtasman services that would see the two carriers collaborate on pricing, revenue management, schedules, capacity and routes.
- AAP
7:20 AM Thursday Sep 23, 2010
Air New Zealand chief executive Rob Fyfe says the Australian competition watchdog's draft determination to block an alliance with Virgin Blue Holdings Ltd would threaten the airline's future.
"If we are to earn the right to continue to fly and grow, then the deal with Virgin Blue is a central plank of that strategy," Fyfe said at a National Aviation Press Club lunch in Sydney yesterday.
"Obviously the ACCC's [Australian Competition and Consumer Commission] preliminary finding represents a threat to this strategy, in effect, a threat to our future."
Virgin Blue and Air New Zealand hope to form an alliance on transtasman services that would see the two carriers collaborate on pricing, revenue management, schedules, capacity and routes.
- AAP
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Thanks for the information Red Jet. Better news than what I was told
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Were you reading the QF intranet???
That's why I asked,
Does anyone have any information to confirm or refute this?
Last edited by Oakape; 24th Sep 2010 at 07:38.
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GG, you may have a long memory but is it accurate. I read on here guys crapping on about this topic but I suspect not all the facts are known.
And no I'm not going to get into a discussion about it. Go do some proper research.
And no I'm not going to get into a discussion about it. Go do some proper research.
Not a xenophobe, just a realist 
For the record my close friends are Kiwis and they know how it is, perhaps you should bite back and have a bit of fun with it.
As for ANZ, well, thats another story.
For the record my close friends are Kiwis and they know how it is, perhaps you should bite back and have a bit of fun with it.
As for ANZ, well, thats another story.
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Steady on Kiwis, don't be too hard on Green Goblin, he does at least provide some occasional light relief in this sea of moaning whinging Arsetralians known as D&G.
His more recent remark about his close friends being Kiwis is a quite funny variation on the old saying "I'm not a racist but...........".
Then there are his frequent attempts to put the Kiwi accent into print, which are so pathetic as to be quite hilarious.
His more recent remark about his close friends being Kiwis is a quite funny variation on the old saying "I'm not a racist but...........".
Then there are his frequent attempts to put the Kiwi accent into print, which are so pathetic as to be quite hilarious.
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Well put. A bit like listening to an American trying to put on an Australian accent. Cringworthy but you cant look away. Oprah was the latest.
Anyway, whats this about long memories, Goblin? What did Fyfe do that you cant let go of?
Anyway, whats this about long memories, Goblin? What did Fyfe do that you cant let go of?
