[2024] IASC R05

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On 21 February 2024, the International Air Services Commission (the Commission) issued Determination [2024] IASC 104 (the Determination) allocating 450 seats of passenger capacity per week to Qantas Airways Limited (Qantas) on the Samoa route, to operate an additional three services per week using Boeing 737 aircraft configured with 174 seats. The Determination includes several conditions including the requirement for the capacity to be utilised no later than 4 January 2025 or such other date approved by the Commission.

On 28 November 2024, Qantas wrote to the Commission seeking an extension of the date for utilisation of the capacity from 4 January 2025 until 31 December 2025. In its letter, Qantas indicated that while the airline has operated two of the three weekly services using the capacity allocated under the Determination, it has not been able to fully utilise the allocated capacity due to operational requirements.

The Commission notes that Qantas has utilised nearly 80 per cent of the capacity allocated under the Determination. Based on the information provided by Qantas, the Commission considers that the carrier was prevented from fully using the capacity by circumstances that could not reasonably have been foreseen. The Commission notes that there is seasonal variation in demand on the Australia-Samoa route, and that it has not received an application from another carrier for an allocation of capacity on the route, including for the unused portion of the allocated capacity.

In light of these circumstances, the Commission issues Resolution [2024] IASC R05 to provide that the capacity allocated under Determination [2024] IASC 104 is to be utilised from no later than 31 December 2025, or such other date approved by the Commission. The Commission will continue to monitor the airline’s ability to fully utilise the capacity issued under the Determination.

Dated: 9 December 2024

Genevieve Butler - Chairperson

Jane McKeon - Commissioner