Emirates and Qantas change their alliance approach

Online news service flightglobal has reported that Qantas Airways and Emirates have withdrawn their application to the Australian competition watchdog for an interim authorisation that will allow them to plan and negotiate their proposed alliance.

According to the site, the two carriers submitted their application to the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) on 7 September for permission to co-ordinate their operations before the approval of their wide-ranging partnership announced earlier. Flightglobal reported ACCC chairman Rod Sims as saying "The ACCC is continuing to examine the airlines' substantive application for authorisation and the decision to withdraw the interim application has no impact on that broader assignment.”

He said that Qantas and Emirates believe they are able to "undertake a significant amount of preparatory work" without the need for the interim authorization ahead of a final decision expected by the ACCC in March 2013.

Qantas has also applied to Australia's International Air Services Commission for permission to operate daily services from Sydney and Melbourne to London via Dubai while ending its routes to London via Singapore. These will instead be operated by BA through the oneworld alliance.