American Airlines, British Airways, Iberia, along with fellow oneworld alliance airlines Finnair and Royal Jordanian, filed an application with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for global antitrust immunity. Approval by the DOT would allow the five airlines to cooperate closely to offer customers more convenient and improved travel options and better access to a global network of more than 500 destinations. It would also allow oneworld to compete on more equal footing with the Star and SkyTeam alliances, both of which currently enjoy broad antitrust immunity, to ensure that customers have ample choice from three competitive global air alliances.
Additionally, once immunity is granted, American, British Airways and Iberia have agreed to establish a transatlantic joint business agreement that would allow the three airlines to integrate many of their travel services on flights between North America and Europe. As a result, the airlines will offer improved scheduling and pricing options and will work to enhance service for customers by allowing more opportunities to earn and redeem frequent flyer miles and elite-tier benefits and by offering reciprocal airport lounge access to qualifying customers.
For customers and communities, this improved cooperation by the oneworld carriers will result in more choices and destinations on the global oneworld network than ever before. Employees and shareholders of the participating airlines are also expected to benefit from this enhanced relationship, which will allow the airlines to be more competitive and financially stable over the long term.
By voicing your support for the antitrust application filed with DOT by American, British Airways, Iberia, Finnair and Royal Jordanian, you can help us deliver better service to customers, improved opportunities to employees and shareholders and expanded global access and economic growth to the communities we serve. Click here to find out how you can help.