Star Members Ask For Antitrust Immunity

chucky

Senior
Sep 13, 2006
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Continental Airlines, United Airlines and Eight Star Alliance Members Ask U.S. DOT for Antitrust Immunity to Better Serve Customers
Wednesday July 23, 3:40 pm ET


WASHINGTON, July 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL - News), United Airlines (Nasdaq: UAUA - News) and eight other Star Alliance member airlines today filed an application with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for Continental to join the group of nine carriers that already hold antitrust immunity. Approval by the DOT would enable Continental, United and the other immunized Star Alliance carriers to work closely together to deliver highly competitive flight schedules, fares and service.


Additionally, Continental, United, Lufthansa and Air Canada have requested DOT approval to establish a trans-Atlantic joint venture to create a more efficient and comprehensive trans-Atlantic network for the carriers' customers, offering customers more service, scheduling and pricing options and establishing a framework for similar joint ventures in other regions of the world.

The DOT has approved more than 20 applications for antitrust immunity in the past, including the recent approval of immunity for six-way alliance activities in trans-Atlantic markets for the SkyTeam carriers Air France, Alitalia, CSA Czech Airlines, Delta, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Northwest Airlines. The DOT ruling allowed Delta/Air France and Northwest/KLM to consolidate their alliance activities.


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Hmmm , no mention of USAirways.. what gives?
 
They just said yetserday they have a new 5 year agreement to stay in STAR. I belive this request is a normal requirement for the code share between CAl & NW, which by the way is at least 18 months away.
 
Excerpt:
The Star Alliance network was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance to offer customers worldwide reach and a smooth travel experience. Star Alliance received the Air Transport World Market Leadership Award in 2008 and was voted Best Airline Alliance by Business Traveller Magazine in 2003, 2006 and 2007 and by Skytrax in 2003, 2005 and 2007. The members are Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, bmi, Egyptair, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, Spanair, SWISS, TAP Portugal, Turkish Airlines, THAI, United and US Airways. Regional member carriers Adria Airways (Slovenia), Blue1 (Finland) and Croatia Airlines enhance the global network. Air India and Continental have been announced as future members. Overall, the Star Alliance network offers 18,100 daily flights to 975 destinations in 162 countries.

B) xUT