Qantas, Virgin Australia, Jetstar and Air New Zealand Team Up

9th Mar 2017

Unhappy with the fees and facilities at the airports they use, three Australian and one New Zealand carriers, including Qantas, Virgin Australia, Jetstar and Air New Zealand have teamed up to for the Airlines of Australia and New Zealand. The A4ANZ will also include TigerAir Australia and Regional Express.

Qantas Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce commented on this:

"Airport fees and charges continue to increase while airlines are offering fares at level significantly cheaper than they were over a decade ago. A4ANZ's goal is to achieve regulatory reform that will promote a competitive and sustainable airline industry in the interest of Australian and New Zealand travellers."

Virgin Australia CEO John Borghetti added:

"Aviation is one of the greatest enabler of tourism, trade and economic growth in our region, so it's absolutely critical that airports operate efficiently and that investment in infrastructure benefits travelers."

Speaking for Air New Zealand, CEO Christopher Luxon said:

Australia and New Zealand must compete for visitors on the world stage against many other attractive destinations. To be competitive we must continue to improve cost and quality in all parts of the travel experience but we are constrained by a legacy of under investment and over recovery at key airports. A4ANZ will add its voice to that ambition."

Each member airline will receive a place on the board in the Airlines for Australia and New Zealand, while the first chairman of the A4ANZ board will be Graeme Samuel, former chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). The A4ANZ will also receive its first chief executive officer in the next few months.

A4ANZ will be a completely separate entity from the Board of Airline Representatives New Zealand, which is another airline lobby group consisting of all carriers that offer services to and within New Zealand.

Airports have not yet had the chance to respond to this new lobby group since its forming last night.

Combined, the three biggest members of the A4ANZ fly nearly 90 million people per year. As the largest airline, Qantas flies 50 million travellers each year, Virgin Australia Group more than 24 million and Air New Zealand over 15 million passengers every year.