On the hop

Great mates Qantas and American caught out on joint-venture knock-back

Since lodging the application for an expanded alliance in June 2015, self-proclaimed “Great Mates” Qantas and American have been keen to talk up the benefits of a larger combined network and prospect of lower airfares for consumers.

And throughout the past 18 months, executives from both carriers have expressed public optimism regulators on both sides of the Pacific would see things their way.