DUBAI, - On Thursday, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCCs) granted an interim authorization for the proposed Emirates and Qantas partnership.

The partnership still remains subject to final authorization from the ACCC, a decision on which is expected in March 2013.

Tim Clark, president, Emirates Airline, said: “The interim approval clears the way for Emirates and Qantas to be geared up to provide customers with a unified experience from day one.

“The Emirates and Qantas partnership will provide customers unparalleled access to the respective networks and services including the A380 experience.”

“This approval comes two weeks after our first aircraft departed from Concourse A at Dubai Airport, the world’s only purpose-built A380 concourse and the 'home of the Emirates A380'. Qantas’ A380 passengers flying in from Australia will be able to enjoy the unrivaled experience in terms of comfort, convenience and choice of facilities in Concourse A, before boarding their flights to our rapidly expanding European network or our destinations in the Middle East and Africa."

Fares on the network, which would be for travel after April 2013, are expected to be available in coming weeks once discussions on pricing have taken place. These services remain subject to approval, including from the ACCC.