Virgin Australia and Air NZ form new partnership

[Harrison_133]

Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand have indeed lodged an application with the ACCC for an expanded partnership.

In summary, the Applicants are seeking authorisation for conduct relating to codesharing on trans-Tasman services (excluding Queenstown) and connecting domestic services, global reciprocal frequent flyer accrual/redemption and global reciprocal status benefits across the network of each airline.

Virgin Australia Airlines Pty Ltd and Ors

On 14 September 2026, Virgin Australia Airlines Pty Ltd and Virgin Australia International Airlines Pty Ltd (and their related bodies corporate together, Virgin Australia) and Air New Zealand Limited (Air NZ) (together with Virgin Australia, the Applicants) lodged an application for...

www.accc.gov.au

 

[roby]

Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand have indeed lodged an application with the ACCC for an expanded partnership.

Virgin Australia Airlines Pty Ltd and Ors

On 14 September 2026, Virgin Australia Airlines Pty Ltd and Virgin Australia International Airlines Pty Ltd (and their related bodies corporate together, Virgin Australia) and Air New Zealand Limited (Air NZ) (together with Virgin Australia, the Applicants) lodged an application for...

www.accc.gov.au

Earn and burn network wide excluding DOH. That's much better than the QF/NZ deal and even better then the old VA/NZ one that excluded Pacific Islands and Bali.

 

[LionKing]

Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand have indeed lodged an application with the ACCC for an expanded partnership.

Virgin Australia Airlines Pty Ltd and Ors

On 14 September 2026, Virgin Australia Airlines Pty Ltd and Virgin Australia International Airlines Pty Ltd (and their related bodies corporate together, Virgin Australia) and Air New Zealand Limited (Air NZ) (together with Virgin Australia, the Applicants) lodged an application for...

www.accc.gov.au

Thanks. For some reason I cannot find that. Hopefully this will get approved and Virgin Australia can get some big announcements soon.

 

[HS-TQE]

Earn and burn network wide excluding DOH. That's much better than the QF/NZ deal and even better then the old VA/NZ one that excluded Pacific Islands and Bali.

I suspect the reward seats on their long haul services ex-AKL will be limited at best. They will want to have higher-yielding customers on their own code filling up those seats, with VA/VFF customers being low in priority.

 

[MooTime]

Reward seats long haul limited, can say that for any airline.

Def positive this VA/NZ hookup.

 

[HS-TQE]

The proposed codeshare expansion slightly better than the previous Godfrey/Borghetti-era JV codeshare (extended to Pacific Islands and Bali networks), whereas the last iteration was limited to each other's domestic networks.

Do note that the ex-Australia POS restrictions continue to apply per the application.

 

[dajop]

Sounds very much what the (now) NZ PM wanted at the time NZ divested there VA stock. VA concentrating on short haul narrow body ops - leaving NZ for the rest eastbound out of Australia.