The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has issued a draft decision proposing to grant authorisation to Star Alliance for its Corporate Plus, Conventions Plus and Meetings Plus programs for eight years.
These programs cover arrangements allowing airlines who 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 has previously authorised the Corporate Plus and Conventions Plus programs. These programs are due to expire on 9 August 2012. The ACCC has therefore granted interim authorisation for these programs to continue and for Meetings Plus to commence while the ACCC completes its consideration of the substantive application for authorisation for all of the programs.
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.
The ACCC now invites comments on the draft determination. The ACCC's draft determination and information about making a submission will be available from the ACCC’s website, www.accc.gov.au/AuthorisationsRegister.
Any person who wishes to make a submission or request a pre-decision conference should do so by Friday, 13 July 2012.