FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Qantas and Emirates?? Affect on OneWorld?
Old Jul 28, 2012, 2:52 am
  #6  
chinatraderjmr
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Dubai / NYC
Programs: EK-IO, UA-1K2MM, ETIHAD-GOLD, SPG-PLAT LIFETIME, JUMEIRAH SERIUS GOLD
Posts: 5,220
I've discussed this w the head of Skywards. From what he told me Joining any alliance is out of the question. They are happy signing agreements w single airlines that fir their needs. KE (Skyteam) & SA (*A) are very strong partners and are not going anywhere. Dubai has a very close relationship with Australia so I guess QA might make sense as well. As far as American carriers, the legacy carriers don't work for EK (they tried it with both CO & UA. They signed an agreement with AS recently and now Jet Blue as well. From EK's point of view, they already fly to 7 N American cities, 9 by the end of the year & 11 or 12 by the end of 2013 so a tie in or any alliance w a US based carrier w a strong International route network actually works against them. They are looking for partners that will feed their flights to Dubai and that's all

The other big problem is AA has a strong relationship w BA just as UA has a string relationship w LH & AC. These 3 airlines (BA, LH, AC) HATE EK and would like to see laws enacted to cut them down to size. While AA or QF might be free to work with EK, BA will have no part of it

Finally, as it was told to me. The relationship with UA & CO made sense when EK started it as they did not fly to the US and had Limited service to LHR & LGW which was boosted by UA / CO. However, when EK started flying to the US the relationships actually hurt them as well as their all so precious reputation. Both Tim and Achmed have been widely quoted In the local papers here saying they have no need or desire to ever get involved w any alliance nor another American legacy carrier (AA, UA, DL, US)

Due to the very very string relationship between Australia and Dubai, I could see a partnership with QF including reciprocal FF deals. The one thing that makes no sense to me is that EK has carried so many passengers from the UK to Australia, they have really hurt both QF & BA on this very important route. I wonder why EK needs this or why QF would agree to anything. I'll make sure to ask this week when I'm over at the EK offices

Last edited by chinatraderjmr; Jul 28, 2012 at 11:10 am
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