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BREAKING NEWS: Qantas and Air New Zealand announce codeshare arrangement

Shortly after calling it quits on a long-term relationship with Virgin Australia, Air New Zealand has moved on with the Aussie carrier's biggest rival, Qantas. That's right, Qantas and Air New Zealand are codesharing.

Shortly after calling it quits on a long-term relationship with Virgin Australia, Air New Zealand has moved on with the Aussie carrier’s biggest rival, Qantas. That’s right, Qantas and Air New Zealand are codesharing.

Gosh, this love triangle is better than anything Hollywood has ever created… am I right?

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Air New Zealand and Qantas confirmed plans for a reciprocal codeshare agreement that aims to make travel within Australia and New Zealand easier.

Under the codeshare Qantas intends to add its code on up to 30 routes on Air New Zealand’s domestic network and Air New Zealand intends to add its code on up to 85 routes on Qantas’ domestic network.

Coordination of check-in and handling at airports will mean shorter connection times, opening up more onward flights for customers on each carrier’s domestic networks and faster journey times overall. It also gives guests access to each other’s lounges in some 36 airports on both sides of the Tasman.

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Qantas Group Chief Executive, Alan Joyce, said the two national carriers have a shared history and a shared goal of making travel easier.

“Our relationship with Air New Zealand goes back almost 80 years. We’ve been partners at various stages over that time and we have a lot of respect for them as a competitor.”

Alan Joyce, Qantas Group Chief Executive

“A codeshare deal on our domestic networks makes sense for customers because it leverages the strengths we each have in our home markets.”

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Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Christopher Luxon concurred, saying that the relationship will see two of the world’s best airline offer their customers a full service experience when they make domestic connections within New Zealand or Australia.

The two CEOs noted that over time there was potential for them to explore areas of mutual interest, including research into biofuels, freight and ground-handling opportunities.

The codeshare and customer offering will exclude Trans-Tasman flights. Qantas will continue to codeshare on all connecting Jetstar New Zealand services.

Tickets for the codeshare services will be available by the end of July 2018, for travel from 28 October 2018.

 

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Can you believe the news from Qantas and Air New Zealand?