Qantas is one big step closer to relaunching direct services between Sydney and San Francisco – four years after abandoning the route.
Last month the airline dropped good news when it announced an expansion its partnership with American Airlines (AA).
The extended agreement would see AA takeover four codeshare flights between Los Angeles and Sydney so that Qantas could move its Boeing 747 on the San Fran route.
Today, the Australian regulators say they’ve embraced the additional joint services by granting interim authorisation.
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Commissioner Dr Jill Walker said the partnership is likely to lead to additional capacity and competition on the route.
“This is likely to result in benefits to passengers that wish to use these services.”
Dr Jill Walker, ACCC Commissioner
While interim authorisation is not indicative of whether or not final authorisation will be granted, it is one step closer for Qantas to launching the flights.
Qantas welcomed the decision by announcing customers will soon be able to start booking direct flights to San Fran for travel from 18 December this year.
Since announcing its return on the route, Qantas International CEO says customer feedback has been ‘fantastic’, with many ‘thrilled’ to have direct flights to the popular onward destination.
“Our corporate customers in particular have told us they look forward to saving about four hours each way by not having to connect through Los Angeles.”
Gareth Evans, Qantas International CEO
Qantas’ San-Francisco services will initially operate on peak days and ramp up to six per week in January 2016 using its newer Boeing 747-400 aircraft with similar interiors found on the airline’s A380s.