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Competition regulator raises concerns about Qantas Group’s proposed takeover of Alliance Air
August 19th 2022
Australia's competition regulator said this week that Qantas Group’s proposed buyout of regional and fly-in/fly-out carrier, Alliance Aviation Services, could reduce competition in regional and remote Queensland and Western Australia. Read More » Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) chair, Gina Cass-Gottlieb, said the proposed tie-up will combine two of the top three operators of air transport services in the two Australian states. “Industry participants have expressed strong concerns about the impact of this proposed acquisition on air transport services, particularly to regional and remote areas,” Cass-Gottlieb said. “We are concerned this proposed acquisition is likely to substantially lessen competition for air transport services to and from regional and remote areas in Queensland and Western Australia for corporate customers.” Qantas Group acquired 19.9% of Alliance Air in February 2019. Last May it announced its intention to acquire the 80.1% equity of the domestic airline it did not own.
