News: QAN ACCC Proposes To Deny Qantas-Japan Airlines Coordination Proposal

May 6 (Reuters) - Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC):

• ACCC PROPOSES TO DENY QANTAS/JAL COORDINATION PROPOSAL
• SEEKING SUBMISSIONS FROM INTERESTED PARTIES IN RESPONSE TO DRAFT DETERMINATION BY 27 MAY 2021
• PROPOSES TO DENY QANTAS AND JAPAN AIRLINES TO COORDINATE FLIGHTS BETWEEN AUSTRALIA-JAPAN FOR 3-YRS UNDER JOINT BUSINESS DEAL
• CAN ONLY AUTHORISE AGREEMENTS IF PUBLIC BENEFITS FROM COORDINATION OUTWEIGH THE HARM TO COMPETITION
• WILL MAKE A FINAL DECISION AFTER CONSIDERATION OF SUBMISSIONS
• CONSIDERS QANTAS, JAPAN AIRLINES COMBINING OPERATIONS WOULD MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR OTHERS TO LAUNCH FLIGHTS ON AUS-JAPAN ROUTES
• MAY GRANT AN AUTHORISATION WHEN IT IS SATISFIED THAT LIKELY PUBLIC BENEFIT FROM CONDUCT OUTWEIGHS ANY LIKELY PUBLIC DETRIMENT
• AT THIS STAGE, DO NOT CONSIDER THAT BENEFITS FROM QANTAS & JAPAN AIRLINES’ COORDINATION PROPOSAL OUTWEIGH THE HARM TO COMPETITION