United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
United cranks up the trans Pacific pressure
A report in The Australian by Aviation writer Steve Creedy, says that the giant US carrier United Airlines is urging US authorities to use the launch of Australia’s new international airline, V Australia, to pressure the Federal Government for an open-skies agreement across the Pacific.
Virgin Blue chief executive Brett Godfrey revealed that United was opposing a submission by Virgin to the US Department of Transport seeking 10 flights weekly, with United and Qantas currently the only airlines to fly directly to the continental US with the entry of V Australia breaking up the non stop duopoly.
Virgin needs approval from US and Australian authorities to fly more than four services per week and already has permission from Canberra for the additional flights, but it has yet to get US Transportation Department approval, however, and there are worries the application could become a political bargaining chip.
Brett Godfrey said United had opposed Virgin’s submission on the grounds that the US authorities should use the new airline to press the Australian Government to negotiate an open-skies agreement and United tried a similar tactic when Jetstar International applied to fly to Honolulu.”
I think they’re fairly clear in their submission that they’re not so concerned about us coming on the route,” Mr Godfrey said.
“It’s the fact that they see this as another opportunity for their government to pressure our government on open skies, at least on the trans-Pacific route.”
Mr Godfrey said Virgin had no problems with an open-skies agreement that allowed carriers on both sides of the Pacific unlimited access to each other’s markets.
Virgin’s new airline would serve the public interest, he said.
“It’s a public interest issue, which is why our Government has supported it, and I would be disappointed if the Americans didn’t also see it that way.”
Report by The Mole
John Alwyn-Jones
Walt Leger on New Orleans’ Resilience and Major Events Ahead
Cindy Mackin Shares Estes Park’s Winter Thrills
Mark Jaronski of Explore Georgia on FIFA World Cup 2026
Connecting Small Businesses to Global Tourism Markets: Nate Huff of Tourism Exchange
North Carolina’s Resilience: Wit Tuttell on Recovery and Tourism
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
BA suspending all Heathrow to Abu Dhabi flights
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Woman dies after going overboard in English Channel
Report: Cruise guest died after ship lashed in heavy storm
British teen in serious condition after paraglider collision