European Commission confirms sending Statement of Objections to oneworld carriers

European Commission (EC) confirmed (02-Oct-2009) that in Sep-2009 it sent a Statement of Objections to British Airways, American Airlines and Iberia, members of the oneworld alliance, in relation to their proposed cooperation on passenger air transport services on trans-Atlantic routes, which the EC considers may be in breach of European rules on restrictive business practices. The Commission opened formal proceeding in Apr-2009. A Statement of Objections is a formal step in EC antitrust investigations, in which the Commission informs the parties concerned in writing of the objections raised against them. [more] BA stated it would respond to the EC by the end of Oct-2009 (Dow Jones, 05-Oct-2009).