Emirates and Qantas announced a new global aviation partnership that will give customers a seamless international and Australian network, exclusive frequent flyer benefits and world-class travel experiences. Under the agreement signed by Emirates president Tim Clark and Qantas CEO Alan Joyce, Qantas will move its hub for European flights from Singapore to Dubai and enter an extensive commercial relationship with Emirates.
The 10-year, code-sharing partnership is enhanced by integrated network collaboration with coordinated pricing, sales and scheduling as well as a benefits sharing model. Neither airline will take equity in the other.
The partnership will see Qantas, along with anchor tenant Emirates, as the only other airline operating at Dubai International’s Terminal 3. The two airlines the will jointly offer 98 weekly services between Australia and the global gateway city of Dubai including four daily A380 flights. As the largest international carrier, Emirates extensive route network provides Qantas customers with one-stop access to more than 90 destinations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and West Asia.
In addition, Qantas will launch daily A380 service from both Sydney and Melbourne to London via Dubai for a combined unprecedented seven daily A380 flights to London Heathrow. Qantas will be the first Australasian carrier to operate scheduled services to Dubai, delivering an additional 900 seats daily from Melbourne and Sydney. This will further accelerate the number of Australasian passengers travelling through Dubai which grew by 26.3 per cent in the first half of 2012.
For Emirates customers it will open up Qantas’ Australian domestic network of more than 50 destinations and nearly 5,000 flights per week. The carriers will also coordinate their respective trans-Tasman services between Australia and New Zealand with Emirates offering improved schedules for flights to Christchurch and Auckland – including the introduction of Emirates’ daily A380 services on the Melbourne-Auckland route in October.
Emirates and Qantas frequent flyer agreements will be linked, giving customers expanded opportunities to earn and redeem points, with reciprocal access to tier status benefits including end-to-end recognition of customers, lounge access, priority check-in and boarding as well as other exclusive services.
Emirates and Qantas will work together to ensure a seamless customer experience, including mutual lounge access, shared use of Emirates’ unique dedicated A380 facility slated to open in early 2013 in Dubai, coordinated baggage allowances and a chauffeur service for premium customers.
'The time was right for developing a long term, future forward partnership with Qantas, the iconic Australian airline,' said Tim Clark, president of Emirates. 'By establishing this partnership we are providing our passengers with additional connectivity in Australia and the region and the ability to utilise enhanced frequent flyer benefits and have access to premium lounges for an exceptional travel experience,' he added.
Joyce added the partnership would deliver unprecedented benefits to Qantas customers and mark a decisive step forward in the Group’s strategy. 'Emirates is the ideal partner for Qantas.'
With a fast-growing fleet of 183 aircraft, Emirates is the largest operator of A380 and B777 aircraft in the world. The airline currently flies to over 120 destinations in 74 countries with flights to Adelaide, Lyon, Phuket and Warsaw set to join the Emirates’ network in the coming months. Additional A380 destinations set to launch this year include Singapore and Moscow (from December 1, 2012).