ICCC proposes to allow Pom-Cairns codeshare

The Independent Consumer and Competition Commission (ICCC) intends to approve the arrangement based on the public benefits that are likely to result from the arrangement.

The draft determination of the codeshare arrangement was released by the ICCC on Sept 30, 2016.

ICCC Commissioner and CEO Paulus Ain said the two airlines will codeshare only for passenger services and Qantas will market seats in competition with Air Niugini, on a “free sale” basis.

“The airlines’ application to codeshare was submitted to the ICCC by Air Niugini on 27th July, 2016.”

He said the ICCC has completed its initial assessment of the application and has since publicly released its draft determination to industry operators, key stakeholders and the general public for comments and further submission.

The deadline for comments and submissions is this Friday, Oct 14, 2016.

A copy of the ICCC’s Draft Determination can be accessed on the ICCC’s website; www.iccc.gov.pg.

Ain said the ICCC is satisfied that the codeshare will generate certain public benefits which include:

• An element of competition in airfares on the POM/CNS route;
• Air Niugini benefiting to operate efficiently on POM/CNS from Qantas’ wider marketing networks which would also benefit the travelling public; and
• Air Niugini providing a range of customer choice with regards to choice of airfares and scheduling of flights.

“With Qantas’ decision to shift its independent services from the POM/CNS route to the Port Moresby-Brisbane (POM/BNE) route, the codeshare thus ensures that there is some element of competition for consumers on the POM/CNS route until such time a competitor seeks to enter the market,” Ain said.

A codeshare agreement is an arrangement where two or more airlines share the same flight.

“A seat can be purchased from an airline on a flight that is actually operated by another airline under a different flight number or code,” defines refund.me.

(Photo courtesy of Wiki Images)