21-Jul-2010

July 20, 2010

The US gave final approval on Tuesday to a bid by American Airlines and British Airways to broaden their transatlantic alliance.

The US Transportation Department said in a statement that it granted a waiver from antitrust law for the carriers in the oneworld Alliance to coordinate scheduling, pricing, and other services.

Other oneworld members covered by the change include Iberia, Finnair and Royal Jordanian.

Transport planners found that the alliance was pro-competitive but required the airlines to make a limited number of landing slots at London's Heathrow airport available to competitors.

The carriers won European Union antitrust clearance for their deal on July 14.

US officials initially cleared the deal in February, but gave the parties additional time to review the terms. The final order contained no substantive changes.

(Reuters)