Qantas Airways And Virgin Australia Take A Part At Haneda Airport
According to a current decision by Australia’s International Air Services Commission (IASC), Qantas Airways and Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd were bestowed one slot each at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. This is for the airlines to operate their flights at the said airport.
The opening at Haneda Airport arises as Virgin Australia’s new CEO Paul Scurrah looks to rearrange the loss-making airline’s route network. Moreover, it aims compete versus the deep-pocketed opponent Qantas.
Meanwhile, Haneda Airport is closer to central Tokyo than Narita airport.
The Airport has a limited quantity of slots and restrained the two Australian carriers up against each other for the profitable opportunity.
Qantas had applied for both slots while Virgin Australia applied for just the one.
According to a statement issued on Monday, a final decision by IASC will appear sometime after it closes a submission deadline on October 24. The choice is regarding its draft call.
In an emailed statement Virgin Australia, it indicated it plans to make use of its allocated slot. This is to activate a daily service between Brisbane and Haneda from March next year.
The Two Airline’s Further Application Details
Moreover, the airline is trying to raise debt to fund the full takeover of its frequent flyer program. It also plans to codeshare with ANA Holdings Inc on trips between Australia and Japan.
However, Virgin Australia did not say where the aircraft will derive from.
Previously, Scurrah declined to exclude cutting flights to Hong Kong as part of its route and fleet review.
Earlier this month, Australia’s rivalry regulator had supported Virgin’s application for a slot. The supervisory has also been citing competition worries if Qantas were to get both.
The draft decision comes ahead of 2020. This is when the Tokyo Olympic Games are set to begin next summer.
In IASC’s draft, they stated that the Japanese government unrestricted 100 extra aircraft arrivals and departures per day at Haneda. It was after aiming solely at international flights.
A Qantas spokesperson said his airline anticipated operating more flights to Haneda.
He also said in an emailed statement, “We’ll confirm whether these flights will operate from Melbourne or Sydney shortly.”
