The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has granted authorisation to Star Alliance for its Corporate Plus, Conventions Plus and Meetings Plus programs for a period of eight years.
These programs cover arrangements allowing airlines that are Star Alliance members to jointly offer discounted fares, volume incentives and discounts on published fares to corporate customers and conference organisers under one contract.
“The ACCC concluded that the programs are likely to result in public benefits including an enhanced service offering to corporate customers and cost savings and other efficiencies obtained by Star Alliance members,” ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said.
The Corporate Plus and Conventions Plus programs have been authorised by the ACCC since 2003. The Meetings Plus program is essentially identical in concept and design to the Conventions Plus Program. The Meetings Plus program has not previously been offered in Australia and has therefore not previously been authorised by the ACCC.
The ACCC last month granted interim authorisation for the programs at the same time as it issued a draft determination proposing to grant authorisation. No submissions were received in response to that draft determination.
Authorisation provides statutory protection from court action for conduct that might otherwise raise concerns under the competition provisions of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. Broadly, the ACCC may grant an authorisation when it is satisfied that the public benefit from the conduct outweighs any public detriment.
Further information, including the application and ACCC decisions can be found on the ACCC’s public register at www.accc.gov.au/AuthorisationsRegister.