Hopes are rising at South African Airways – and Qantas – that the carriers will, after all, be permitted to codeshare between Australia and Johannesburg beyond the end of the year.
Renewed optimism was sparked yesterday after Travel Today revealed Qantas has dropped Judicial Review proceedings and been “invited” by the International Air Services Commission to submit a fresh application (Travel Today, yesterday).
The parties “agreed” to discontinue the action, Qantas said.
Aviation observers believe it almost inconceivable that such developments would take place, only for the IASC to again reject the application.
“It would take it all back to square one,” one commentator said. “The chances are the next application will be approved although there are likely to be changes to that application and caveats inserted by the IASC. It is certainly a positive development for the carriers.”
South African Airways declined to comment before the saga has officially concluded, but management were said to be pleased with developments.
Sources close to the carrier said SAA was “encouraged” by events.
Qantas and SAA wanted a five year extension to the long standing codeshare agreement and warned that an end to it would put the services at risk.
The IASC rejected the application after ruling it was potentially strangling competition.
