Virgin Australia applies to codeshare with SIA/Silk Air on routes to India

Virgin Australia applied (15-Jul-2011) to the Australian International Air Services Commission, seeking 1625 seats of third country codeshare capacity to permit Virgin Australia to codeshare on Singapore Airlines and/or SilkAir services to points in India via Singapore. Singapore and Silk Air operate to Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkala, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad. Virgin Australia has requested a five-year term, with the allocation to be fully used by 31-Jan-2012. Virgin Australia and Singapore Airlines have recently signed an agreement to form a long-term strategic alliance. In a joint application to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), Virgin Australia and Singapore Airlines have sought authorisation to cooperate across a broad range of commercial functions in order to build an integrated alliance. The IASC anticipates that the ACCC will issue its determination on this matter before the end of 2011.