Qantas has this morning announced that it may only be a matter of weeks until they can reveal details of two new routes: Brisbane to Chicago and Brisbane to San Francisco.
It comes as Qantas and American Airlines received tentative approval from the US Department of Transportation for a joint business venture.
Final approval is expected to be received within the next few weeks, and when that happens, Qantas can announce details its two new routes.
Integration between the two carriers would bring with it many new mutual benefits.
These include the opportunity to launch new routes and flights to new destinations, including to city pairs not currently served by either carrier.
It would also see an expanded codeshare relationship opening up more connections to more destinations and reduced total travel time.
More frequent flyer benefits would be available too, including higher earn rates for points on each other’s networks beyond what is possible today through oneworld.
It would also mean co-location at airports, investments in lounges, baggage systems and other infrastructure designed to better serve the carriers’ joint customers.
Qantas Group Chief Executive Officer, Alan Joyce, said: “Both airlines submitted a compelling proposal to the DOT that would bring significant benefits to millions of travellers and a boost to tourism”.
“For more than 30 years, Qantas and American have connected the US and Australia as partners. This joint business means that we’ll be able to deepen this partnership to offer new routes, better flight connections and more frequent flyer benefits,” he said.
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