United Opposes Skyteam Ati

WorldTraveler

Corn Field
Dec 5, 2003
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United Opposes ATI For SkyTeam, Suggests DL, NWA Merger
Aviation Daily
09/01/2005, page 06 Limited excerpt from article

Angela Kim

United's alternatives to ATI included a merger subject to DOJ review, after which the joined carriers could seek ATI with the foreign SkyTeam members. The other option is for either Delta or Northwest to drop out of the ATI scenario. The excluded party still could continue to cooperate with alliance members in a limited way, a situation United compared with the US Airways and Star Alliance relationship.
 
Should it not be clear (I should have spelled it out), ATI is antitrust immunity - the legally sanctioned ability for airlines to coordinate schedules, pricing, and operations. DL already has ATI with Air France, Alitalia, and Czech. NW has ATI w/ KLM although KLM is now owned by AF. Without ATI, NW will be unable to participate in network related conversations with DL, AF, AZ, and OK. Being able to do so will be increasingly important as AF takes greater control of KL.