Aviation commentators are expecting the competition between Qantas and Air New Zealand to intensify as the pair finally call time on the increasingly awkward deal that saw the carriers codeshare on each other’s domestic networks.
The QF/NZ arrangement started in 2018, after NZ parted ways with Virgin Australia. Under the then new deal NZ put its code on up to 85 of QF’s Australian domestic routes and QF placed its code on up to 30 of NZ’s domestic New Zealand routes.
But QF has blatantly increased its Tasman flying, talked up plans to use Auckland as its eastern hub (including a new lounge), and launched services in direct competition with NZ such as QF’s flights ex Auckland to New York and Samoa which had some questioning the continued existence of the NZ/ QF deal.
. . . Update
In mid-Sep NZ and Virgin Australia applied to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to expand their trans tasman codeshare deal to include placing their codes on each other’s domestic flights. See more HERE.
Air New Zealand has confirmed that the NZ/QF codeshare arrangement will end 07 Apr, and says it is in the process of contacting its trade partners. The Qantas website states that the partnership between QF and NZ will end from 07 Apr, and that QF codeshare flights operated by NZ will no longer be available to book from this date. Clients booked to travel by 06 Apr are not impacted.
But those booked on a QF code-share flight operated by NZ from 07 Apr will have their booking updated to a NZ flight number, it adds. See more HERE.
. . . Overdue
No-one contacted is shocked by the demise of the NZ/QF codeshare, but they are surprised by the time it has taken for NZ to ‘seek alternative arrangements’. “I can’t believe it took [NZ] so long to react,” says one. “The QF group continues to make inroads in New Zealand, with QF on the Tasman and Jetstar on the Kiwi domestic trunkline.
Any perceived notion of closer ties between NZ and QF were long gone, and QF has been openly chasing New Zealand market share.”
Another industry observer is picking that the QF group will, from Apr sharpen its Kiwi focus. “Just adding a couple more [QF group] planes, could have a material impact on NZ,” he adds.
