Qantas and Emirates, two of the world’s leading airlines, are moving to prolong their highly successful joint venture partnership for another five years. Building on eight years of collaboration, the airlines are seeking regulatory re-authorization to extend their joint business agreement beyond its current expiry in March 2023, aiming to solidify their cooperation until 2028. This continuation will ensure the seamless coordination of critical aspects such as pricing strategies, flight schedules, sales initiatives, and joint tourism marketing efforts across their approved network of routes. The agreement also includes the potential for a further five-year renewal, signaling a long-term commitment between these aviation giants.
For Emirates, this partnership is pivotal, providing its passengers with access to an extensive network of over 55 Australian destinations not directly served by Emirates’ own flights. Conversely, Qantas customers benefit immensely by gaining access to Emirates’ vast global network, flying through Dubai to more than 50 cities across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa – destinations beyond the reach of Qantas’ standalone route map. This symbiotic relationship has proven to be a boon for travelers seeking enhanced connectivity and broader travel options.
“We recognize that the international aviation market is still on a long road to recovery, and in this landscape, strong partnerships between airlines are more crucial than ever,” stated Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce. His remarks, made during the IATA AGM in Boston, underscore the strategic importance of this extended collaboration in navigating the complexities of the post-pandemic travel industry.
The announcement of this planned extension coincides with Qantas’ proactive approach to restarting its long-haul international services. The airline has announced the resumption of scheduled services from November 14, with flagship routes from Sydney to London and Los Angeles taking flight once again. This move comes ahead of the originally anticipated mid-December restart, demonstrating Qantas’ agility in responding to the Australian government’s confirmation of international border reopening in November.
Initially, Qantas will operate thrice-weekly services on both the Sydney-London (one-stop) and Sydney-Los Angeles routes, utilizing Boeing 787-9 aircraft. The airline has also indicated its readiness to scale up flight frequencies to meet evolving demand. Furthermore, the planned resumption of other international routes from December 18 remains on track, with built-in flexibility to introduce additional routes should other Australian states and territories accelerate their border reopening plans and ease quarantine requirements. This proactive and adaptable strategy highlights the commitment of Qantas International Partners, like Emirates, in ensuring robust and reliable global connectivity for their passengers.
