Qantas CEO sees solid case for Alliance acquisition

UPDATE – Qantas CEO Alan Joyce is optimistic that his airline will be granted the full acquisition of Alliance Airlines. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) raised concerns in an interim ruling in August, but Joyce thinks the commission might lift its objections, he told AirInsight at the World Aviation Festival in Amsterdam. Qantas CEO sees solid case for Alliance acquisition.

Qantas said in May that it intended to acquire the remaining 80.1 percent of Alliance Airlines, already owning the rest of the carrier. Alliance is an important asset to Qantas, as it has an agreement to wet-lease eighteen Embraer E190s to QantasLink for use on regional routes. The ACCC said in August it is concerned that a Qantas-Alliance combination will significantly lessen competition, notably in Queensland and Western Australia. The commission is supposed to make a final ruling on November 17, but Joyce said it could take some extra time. The ACCC says on its website that it wants allow parties more time and has set a new proposed date for its decision on December 1.