Unions and an independent senator are requesting the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) audit Qantas before granting final approval on the airline’s joint venture with Emirates.

Independent senator Nick Xenophon and some unions believe Qantas may be shifting funds and exaggerating issues the airline is reporting with its international business, ABC news reported.

ACCC chairman Rod Sims said an audit was not necessary as the venture will not have a momentous effect on competition.

“Had we said, look the competitive detriment is really strong, therefore the only way you could justify this is the fact that Qantas is going to get off these routes and is in dire trouble, then you would have needed to do what Senator Xenophon in particular is talking about,” Mr Sims said.

“But we didn't find that amount of detriment to justify that.”

The ACCC’s formal analysis did uncover some small gains for passengers, due to additional connections and better access to rewards programs, but did not envisage much of a change to competition, with many other airlines servicing similar routes to Qantas and Emirates.

Qantas and Emirates were granted draft approval by the ACCC for their joint venture in December 2012.