Flight Global’s August 2, 2019 article “The US Department of Transportation has tentatively granted antitrust immunity to the joint venture proposed by Delta Air Lines, Air France, KLM and Virgin Atlantic Airways” highlights AAI’s and other consumer groups’ opposition to the joint venture. From the article:
Opponents of the expanded joint venture listed in the department’s order include JetBlue Airways, which argues the deal “would reduce and foreclose competition” because airline alliances SkyTeam, Oneworld, and Star Alliance already control 90% of US-Europe air travel. JetBlue also urged the DOT to “proceed with caution” owing to uncertainty stemming from the UK’s exit from the European Union.
Consumer organisations mentioned in the order include Travelers United and the American Antitrust Institute, which oppose the deal because the new venture “will have greater impacts to competition” than the airlines claim, and that “concentration in the transatlantic market is too high”.
