Japan Airlines and American Airlines receive tentative DoT approval

American Airlines and Japan Airlines received tentative US Department of Transportation approval for antitrust immunity allowing the carriers' to cooperate on services between Asia and North America under the Open Skies agreement between the two countries (Los Angeles Times/AFP, 08-Oct-2010). The airlines await a final approval to commence daily New York-Tokyo service on 20-Jan-2010, with Japan Airlines to launch Tokyo-San Francisco service on 31-Oct-2010.

Japan Airlines: "These new opportunities afford­ed by developments in the aviation landscape in Japan will allow us to optimise flight schedules, pricing, and enhance operational efficiency," Tsutomu Ando, Executive Officer of International Affairs. Source: AFP, 08-Oct-2010.