alliance

Australian airliner, Qantas (ASX:QAN) has extended a code share agreement with South African Airlines (SAA) for two years following regulatory approval.

• The regulator, International Air Services Commission (IASC) imposed conditions that the two airlines will operate 13 flights a week between, Australia and Johannesburg.
• Qantas and SAA are the only two airlines that fly between Australia and South Africa.

Last week, Qantas (ASX:QAN) announced an alliance with Middle East based Emirates. Here are the relevant summary points of the alliance deal between Emirates and Qantas:

• Qantas signs a 10 year Alliance with Emirates Airlines, the world's largest airline by passenger traffic
• Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said, "We see a path through to this business breaking even by financial year 2015. We do want to make sure Qantas international goes back to profits."

A turnaround by the US department enables Virgin Australia (former Virgin Blue) (ASX:VBA) to expand its network. The company forms an alliance with Delta Airlines to better compete with Qantas on the business travel market.

In an attempt to compete with Qantas Airways, Air New Zealand (AIZ) and Virgin Blue (VBA) Virgin Blue are looking forward to form a codeshare alliance which will boost up their presence across the Tasman. The proposal is currently waiting for the approval from the regulator.

Air New Zealand (AIZ) and Virgin Blue (VBA) are in talks over a possible Trans-Tasman alliance. The potential cooperative alliance will help reduce costs for both airline carriers for a route which has been marginal or loss making.