US DOT proposes to approve Delta-Virgin Atlantic antitrust immunity agreement.

US Department of Transportation (DOT) proposed (30-Aug-2013) 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 JV on services between the US and the UK. The US DOT noted, "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". [more - original PR]