Australian and UK Virgin carriers get go-ahead to partner

Australian regulators have given interim approval to a partnership between Virgin Australia and Virgin Atlantic that will see them cooperate in the Australia-UK market. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission decision will allow the two airlines to partner on flights that meet at “mutual midpoints” in Hong Kong, Los Angeles, and “any other future mutual connecting points.” They already codeshare, but the airlines wanted to coordinate more closely on pricing, inventory and marketing strategy. “We do not think this enhanced cooperation is likely to lessen competition on the routes between Australia and the British Isles,” ACCC commissioner Sarah Court said. The interim authorisation “will remain in effect while the ACCC considers the application for authorisation in more detail,” the agency said. <br/>