11-May-2011 11:17 AM
US tentatively awards antitrust immunity to V Australia and Delta
V Australia (shortly to be rebranded Virgin Australia) and Delta Air Lines have been tentatively awarded antitrust immunity from the US Department of Transportation (DoT) to operate joint services on trans-Pacific routes. The decision now enters a public-review period before becoming final. The airlines applied for immunity almost two years ago, but in 2010 the DoT rejected the carriers' application. DoT now states that substantial changes to the proposal have addressed previous concerns. Delta currently only operates non-stop Los Angeles-Sydney services and V Australia operates from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to Los Angeles.