JEDDAH, 14 June 2008 — Delta Air Lines has welcomed the US Department of Transportation’s (DOT) final order and decision to approve antitrust immunity for six-way alliance activities in trans-Atlantic markets for the SkyTeam carriers of Air France, Alitalia, CSA Czech Airlines, Delta, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Northwest Airlines.
Delta currently has antitrust immunity with Air France, Alitalia and CSA, while Northwest has antitrust immunity with KLM.
The DOT’s ruling allows these SkyTeam carriers to consolidate their alliance activities, according to Glen Hauenstein, US-based Delta’s executive vice president network planning and revenue Management.
The closer cooperation made possible by this decision will lead expanded trans-Atlantic services, more discounted seats available through increased capacity and cooperation and expanded code sharing resulting in more convenient routings.
It will also entail shorter travel times and improved time of day coverage, and enhanced competition against rival alliances aside from improved opportunities to take advantage of the liberalization in trans-Atlantic marketplace made possible by US-EU Open Skies.