Qantas and American Airlines plan to add at least two new transpacific routes in the next five years if they get final regulatory approvals for their joint venture on flights between Australasia and mainland North America. Although the routes were not specified, Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce has publicly stated his interest in a Melbourne-Dallas service once the airline begins receiving new B787-9 aircraft from 2017.

American Airlines, which began flying the Sydney-Los Angeles route last month and will start services on the Auckland-Los Angeles route in June, is also considering more routes. American Airlines is already the biggest codeshare partner of Qantas and forms a key plank in the Australian airline’s partnership strategy alongside joint ventures with Emirates for Europe, the Middle East and Africa and China Eastern in the Chinese market.

Since Qantas and American Airlines announced their intention to deepen their alliance in June, United Airlines has unveiled plans for Auckland-San Francisco flights and Air Canada has announced plans for Brisbane-Vancouver flights.

As part of their proposed alliance, Qantas and American Airlines will share revenue on flights to the mainland US and Canada, but not on flights to and from Hawaii.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has given draft approval to the joint venture and the New Zealand Ministry of Transport has given final approvals.