Qantas pulls out of BARA

QANTAS and Emirates are no longer members of the Board of Airline Representatives Australia (BARA), the peak body which is authorised to represent the combined interests of international airlines operating to and from Australian airports.

It’s understood QF did not renew its membership of the organisation effective 30 Jun, citing a “change of focus” at BARA, but without providing any further details.

The BARA constitution includes a specific clause stating that Qantas Airways Limited automatically qualifies as a member, along with Virgin Australia.

Qualifications for other members stipulate that they must either be online or offline carriers with local representation, operating at least one weekly flight to an Australian airport.

It’s believed that Emirates has also withdrawn from BARA, with EK no longer among the now 32 remaining members listed on the organisation’s website.

BARA currently holds an authorisation from the ACCC, valid until 2025, allowing it to collectively pursue negotiations with suppliers such as airports, Airservices Australia, fuel providers and more on behalf of its member airlines.

A 2019 submission from BARA to the Productivity Commission noted that its members “provide 90% of all international passenger flights to and from Australia” - a figure which will no longer be relevant with the Qantas and Emirates pullouts.

BARA, which appointed Stephen Pearse as its new Executive Director this month following the departure of Barry Abrams after almost a decade (TD 06 Jul), hasn’t commented on the Qantas withdrawal at this stage.