BA / AA bosses confident on US / EU antitrust approval
08.06.09
Gerard Arpey, Chairman and Chief Executive of American Airlines, said today that he is confident that both the US Transportation Department and European Union authorities will grant airline's proposed transatlantic join venture with British Airways antitrust immunity, which would allow the airlines to cooperate on scheduling and revenue sharing on the routes. His comments were echoed by BA boss Willie Walsh.
Mr Arpey told reporters at a OneWorld Alliance news conference in Kuala Lumpur: ‘We are confident of a positive outcome on both sides of the Atlantic.' He said current circumstances are dramatically different from the last time American Airlines and British Airways applied for immunity ‘because it is an open playing field across the Atlantic now.’
Mr Walsh said their case was ‘stronger than ever’ as two other groups of airlines were already working together on prices, schedules and other details. He said: ‘This is about levelling the competitive playing field and we are confident our case has significant merit. We expect to get approval in the current calendar year, which will allow us then to proceed with the joint business by 2010.’
Add to: del.icio.us | Digg it | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit
To book heathrow airport hotel or heathrow airport car park at the lowest price, click on these links to two great heathrow airport car parking and heathrow airport hotel price comparison page
