DOT Proposes to Approve Delta-Virgin Atlantic Antitrust Immunity Agreement.
30-Aug-2013 The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today proposed to approve a request by Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic Airways, along with their SkyTeam partners, for antitrust immunity that would allow the airlines to operate a joint venture on flights between the United States and United Kingdom.
If the decision is made final, Delta and Virgin Atlantic would be able to more closely coordinate their operations between North America and the United Kingdom. The Department tentatively concluded that the alliance would benefit passengers by providing stronger competition with existing alliances in the U.S.-Europe market and that it would be unlikely to have anticompetitive effects. Objections to DOT's show-cause order are due in 14 calendar days, with answers to objections due seven calendar days afterward. The show-cause order is available at www.regulations.gov, docket DOT-OST-2013-0068.