News
Air NZ and Virgin Australia submit applications for codeshare agreement
November 30th 2023
Air New Zealand (Air NZ) and Virgin Australia (VA) have submitted their applications to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACC) and N.Z. Ministry of Transport (MOT) for approval to establish a codeshare agreement on select Australia-N.Z. services. Read More » Under the proposed agreement, announced recently, the Australia carrier plans to add its VA airline code on Air NZ-operated flights between Australia and N.Z. (except to and from Queenstown). Air NZ will not codeshare on VA's flights from Queenstown to Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. The codeshare will be on a free sale basis, with Air NZ to retain control on the prices VA will offer the codeshare flights for sale. Members of VA's Velocity Frequent Flyer program can earn points and status credits, as well as access Air NZ premium passenger lounges, if eligible, when flying on Air NZ-operated flights booked under the VA code. The two carriers said there was no competitive detriment from the unilateral codeshare agreement. "The proposed conduct will enable Virgin Australia to efficiently fill this gap in its current network," the submission said. "The proposed conduct is expected to result in incremental passengers on Air New Zealand services which has not only the benefit of improving the efficiency and sustainability of Air New Zealand’s flight operations but which is a more general benefit to New Zealand."
