[The Age | Text-only index]     ACCC backs Qantas on closer ties
with Jetstar  Date: December 14 2012   In a draft ruling, the
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has
approved coordination between Qantas and its Jetstar operations
in Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Japan and yet-to-be-approved
venture in Hong Kong on passenger and cargo services.  "The ACCC
considers that the coordination is likely to result in public
benefits to consumers by increasing the likelihood of additional
Jetstar flights and destinations in Asia, and providing
increased online connections for consumers," ACCC chairman Rod
Sims said this morning.  In June, Qantas applied to the ACCC
seeking approval for a Jetstar Joint Venture Coordination
Agreement (JVCA) allowing the airlines to work together on
matters such as network, scheduling, pricing, marketing,
purchasing, customer service, frequent flyer and information
technology.  "Under the JVCA, the parties propose to operate as
a single, fully integrated organisation b