News
Virgin Australia to pursue All Nippon Airways for Haneda slot
September 27th 2019
Virgin Australia and All Nippon Airways take on Qantas and Japan Airlines. Read More »
Virgin Australia this week formalised its request for one of two daytime Tokyo Haneda slots awarded to Australia. Virgin proposes launching Brisbane-Haneda flights with A330s. Qantas has requested both slots: a new service from Sydney and the other to move its existing Melbourne-Narita flight to Haneda.
Virgin Australia intends to partner with All Nippon Airways (ANA), which has served Sydney and this month opened a new Tokyo Narita-Perth route. Initially, their partnership will be a codeshare with the usual frequent flyer benefits.
ANA and Japan Airlines (JAL) each received one Haneda slot. They have not disclosed how they will use it.
Qantas would surely prefer to win both Haneda slots. But if Virgin Australia receives a slot and enters the Japan-Australia market, it could create enough competition for Qantas and JAL to argue to regulators they can form a joint venture without market detriment.
