The Joint Business Agreement (JBA) signed by aviation giants, Qantas Airways and American Airlines is a draft decision that will tempt travellers with a delightful option to procure cheap flights to South West Pacific regions at affordable prices.
American Airlines (AA) has taken another significant leap to enhance the travellers’ flying experience with its latest joint business agreement with Australia’s Qantas Airways. The U.S. Department of Transportation finally approved the airlines’ trans-Pacific joint business agreement (JBA), as revealed in a News Release issued by AA.
The agreement will allowAmerican Airlines and Qantas Airways to coordinate their services between the United States, Australian and New Zealand destinations and focus their respective airline services which support these trans-Pacific routes.
The joint agreement between the two carriers would hugely benefit the holiday-makers with enhanced frequency of cheap flights and increased penetration due to codeshare of flights. At the same time the stakeholders will be able to reap maximised value from the venture.
To offer ultimate flying experience these carriers have contrived better flight schedules, cheap tickets, expanded codesharing, more coordinated services, and increased frequency of cheap flights.
The News Release revealed that with all the pertinent authorizations and approvals, American Airlines and Qantas Airways can begin working together on the following:
- Joint strategic planning and management of trans-Pacific services and ‘behind and beyond’ services within Australia / New Zealand and North America
- Improvement of flight schedules, frequencies and connection times to benefit Qantas and American customers
- Joint pricing initiatives resulting in more competitive fares and new fare products, as well as joint marketing of services
- Increased opportunities for customers of each airline to earn and redeem frequent flyer miles/points on services operated by the other
- A streamlined offering for corporate customers and for travel agents
- The ability to coordinate pricing for the sale of Australia and New Zealand package destinations by AA Vacations, American’s outlet for discount vacation packages
American Airlines’ Chief Commercial Officer, Virasb Vahidi was quoted as saying, “The final approval by the DOT will allow American and Qantas to enhance customer service and travel options for our customers flying between North America and Australia and New Zealand. He added “Qantas is a long-standing and highly valued partner, and together we are supporting each other’s strategic objectives by providing an unparalleled global network for our customers.”
Rob Gurney, Group Executive Qantas Airlines Commercial was cited as saying, “The launch of Dallas/Fort Worth services has opened up unprecedented access to North America for Qantas customers through codeshares with American Airlines. He added, “With approval for our joint business agreement, both carriers can now work even more closely together on strategic initiatives that will benefit our customers in both markets.”
It was in May 2011, when Qantas took a crucial step to operate flights between Sydney and Dallas/Fort Worth, which is American Airlines’ base of operations, that the foundation for the Joint Business Agreement as well as deeper commercial ties between the two oneworld giants was laid.
The Australia’s flag carrier, Qantas is set to increase its flights frequencies between Sydney and Dallas/Fort Worth to six flights per week in January 2012; and to daily flights by July 2012. The airline aims at establishing a reinforced alliance network based around major hub airports which is seen as a part of the Qantas Group’s ‘gateway strategy’ in order to revitalize its international flight operations.
(Source: American Airlines News Release)
