Qantas is seeking approval from Australian regulators to extend by another five years its joint venture partnership with American Airlines.
The JV is due to expire by March 2021 and allows Qantas and American to cooperate on flight operations between North America and Australasia.
This includes coordinating fares and revenue sharing, marketing and codesharing.
Both carriers are members of the oneworld alliance.
A five-year extension has already been approved in the US.
"The successful reinstatement of Qantas’ transpacific services to levels in place prior to the pandemic and any future growth of those services will depend on re-authorisation of the Proposed Conduct," the proposal to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission says.
American Airlines is resuming Los Angeles-Sydney flights this month but Qantas has stated it is unlikely to restart flights to the US until mid to late 2021, when it is hopeful a Covid-19 vaccine will signal a global travel recovery.
The airlines see the JV as the ‘fastest and most efficient way’ in getting more transpacific flights operating again.
Written by Ray Montgomery, Asia Editor
