ANA, United and Continental may file for antitrust immunity by the end of 2009

All Nippon Airways President, Shinichiro Ito, stated the carrier and its US partners, United Airlines and Continental Airlines, may file for US antitrust immunity in the Japan-US aviation market by the end of this month (Kyodo, 18-Dec-2009). The three carriers, all members of the Star Alliance, will operate services integrally to ''increase convenience for customers'' subject to US Department of Transportation approval.