Virgin-Skywest alliance get final OK from ACCC

A code-sharing alliance between Virgin Australia and Skywest has received final approval.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commisison has given final approval to a codesharing alliance between Virgin Australia and WA regional carrier Skywest.

The tie-up will link Virgin with Skywest’s network serving the mining industry and comes amid a larger push by Virgin to challenge Qantas’s hold on business travel.

“Virgin Australia is committed to increasing competition in the Australian corporate travel market and the expansion of our alliance with Skywest is an important part of this strategy,” said Merren McArthur, a Virgin executive.

Virgin purchased the equivalent of a 10 per cent stake in Perth-based Skywest last month.

The ACCC gave the two airlines interim approval for the alliance in January.