Antitrust Immunity urged by major US and European airport CEOs

CEOs from major US and Europe airports are joining Airports’ Coalition for Alliance Benefits (ACAB) to urge the US Department of Transportation (DOT) to swiftly approve the joint application of Americ

CEOs from major US and Europe airports are joining Airports’ Coalition for Alliance Benefits (ACAB) to urge the US Department of Transportation (DOT) to swiftly approve the joint application of American Airlines, Inc. (AA), British Airways PLC (BA), Finnair OYJ (AY), Iberia Lineas Aereas de Espana, S.A. (IB), and Royal Jordanian Airlines (RJ) for antitrust immunity (ATI).

ACAB will host a press conference on Monday, May 18, 2009 in Washington, DC on the last day of the US DOT’s three-week public comment period. Airline executives will attend to show their support for this important initiative.

Together they will discuss consumer benefits and airport impacts including:

– ATI levels the playing field. Star and SkyTeam already enjoy transatlantic ATI – oneworld, its airports, and its customers deserve the same.

– ATI will generate new economic activity. Economic impact for communities worldwide is critical at this time of great uncertainty.

– Consumers will benefit from more and better service, such as improved connection times, single-ticket pricing, and worldwide customer service – just like Star and SkyTeam passengers have today.

– ATI will open up new routes to new markets – such as secondary European markets and secondary US markets.

– ATI offers benefits to airports of all sizes in the US and in Europe.

Air service is an economic stimulant, and antitrust immunity (ATI) stimulates air service. Therefore, the DOT’s swift approval of oneworld ATI will be a bonus federal economic stimulus package for our communities. ACAB is a coalition of over 75 airports in the US and Europe that unequivocally supports oneworld ATI and all of the resulting consumer and economic benefits.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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