Air New Zealand has been revealed as the sole opponent to Qantas’ proposal to expand a trans-pacific alliance with American Airlines.
Qantas and American want to increase the number of flights between the US west coast and Australia and seek approval from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission for a 10-year expanded joint business agreement.
The ACCC authorised a similar five-year alliance between Qantas and American back in 2011.
The new proposal came about after American Airlines announce it would fly from Los Angeles to Sydney.
If the alliance gets the green light, Qantas would be able to restart flights on the Sydney-San Francisco route.
The two carriers have also hinted at moves to disrupt Air NZ’s current monopoly on flights from Auckland to Los Angeles.
Air NZ said there is no need for a new agreement as the Qantas-AA pact is covered by the current arrangement, which is valid until 2016.
"If either party wants to start a Sydney-San Francisco service they can do so alone or with the support of the other through codeshare, block space, wet lease, or other arrangements," Air NZ said.
However Qantas hit back, calling Air NZ’s move a delaying tactic.
"Air New Zealand’s stated concerns must be viewed in the context of the strategic advantage it would enjoy from delaying or diluting the success of the introduction of the applicants’ new joint services."
