The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission this week approved for five years an alliance between Australia-based Virgin Blue Holdings and Etihad Airways of the United Arab Emirates

to jointly set fares and schedules, though the carriers do not plan to share revenue. In conjunction with the alliance, Virgin Blue's V Australia international brand this month expects to launch three weekly flights between Sydney and Etihad's Abu Dhabi hub. Services from Melbourne and Brisbane to Abu Dhabi would commence within the next year. "The ACCC considers that the alliance is likely to promote competition and result in new international services, in particular between Australia and Abu Dhabi with onward connections to Europe," according to ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel.