MinterEllison acted for the International Air Transport Association (IATA) which intervened in the Flight Centre case to make submissions to the Full Court of the Federal Court and the High Court on the relationship between airlines and travel agents under IATA standard agreements, and the implications of that relationship for the ACCC's case.

In December 2016 the High Court found in favour of the ACCC in a judgment that has worldwide implications for the characterisation of relationship between airlines and travel agents and ramifications in Australia for the legality of many common commercial dual distribution systems (where a manufacturer supplies direct and through distributors).

The intersection between agency and competition law, by our Partners Justin Oliver and Paul Schoff includes further insights about this landmark case and implications for agency distribution arrangements.