Nearly 500 elected and public officials from across the United States have sent letters asking the Federal government to level the playing field by granting global antitrust immunity to five oneworld® airlines. These officials state that businesses, consumers and communities they represent all will benefit from the proposed arrangement among American Airlines, British Airways, Iberia Airlines, Finnair and Royal Jordanian.
The five airlines today announced that they have filed letters of support from elected and public officials from 47 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico with the United States Department of Transportation (DOT), which is expected to issue its decision by Oct. 31, 2009. In addition to the application to the U.S. DOT, American, British Airways and Iberia continue to work with the European Union through its regulatory process and remain hopeful that they will be in a position to proceed with implementation by the end of this year.
Federal-level support includes 28 U.S. Senators and 133 U.S. Representatives. At the state and local level, 43 Governors and Lieutenant Governors, representing more than 83 percent of the U.S. population, and 110 Mayors who represent an aggregate population of more than 37 million, have written in support of the airlines’ effort to gain approval to work more closely together and compete more effectively with other alliances that already have received immunity.
"Approval of American Airlines, British Airways, and Iberia's pending application will give consumers more travel options, increase competition for international travel and create jobs in Illinois," said Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin, D-Ill. "I stand with airports and businesses across Illinois in supporting this alliance and the economic activity it stands to create."
"Putting oneworld on an equal footing with other airline alliances is vital and will be a positive for Fort Worth. More competition among airline alliances will bring more travel choices with a combined route network and provide more seamless service among American, British Airways and Iberia," said U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas. "It will also provide travelers with more opportunities to earn and redeem frequent flyer miles on flights worldwide."
The application is also supported by 129 U.S. airports representing more than half of all departures from airports within the 50 states, as well as the Puerto Rico Ports Authority and the Manchester Airport Group in the United Kingdom.
With the 499 letters from elected and public officials and airports announced today, the alliance has received a grand total of 3,382 letters for support from 47 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Previously filed were 2,883 letters from 521 corporations and small businesses, 615 travel industry organizations, and 356 other groups such as non-profits and chambers of commerce.
This broad-based support demonstrates that antitrust immunity will deliver more convenient, improved travel options for customers and enhance service on oneworld’s network of 8,951 daily departures to 663 destinations in 134 countries. As a result, oneworld, of which American, British Airways and Iberia are key members, will compete more effectively with the Star and SkyTeam global airline alliances that already enjoy antitrust immunity.
Visit AA's YouTube channel at: www.youtube.com/americanairlines for video information about this and other initiatives at American Airlines.
oneworld alliance Worldwide Antitrust Immunity Application Press Release PDF | HTML
Participating oneworldCarriers Fact Sheet PDF | HTML
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