Overseas flights off

QANTAS and Japan Airlines have been blocked from launching new flights between Cairns and Tokyo after the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission crushed hopes of a new wave of international travel.

The airlines sought approval from the ACCC in December last year to expand their codeshare relationship to up to 29 destinations across Australia, Japan and New Zealand.

The ACCC has denied the joint business agreement proposal because of concerns it would reduce competition as international travel resumes.