DOT grants final ATI approval for American/JAL, ANA/United/Continental JVs

US DOT gave final approval for antitrust immunity to oneworld members Japan Airlines and American Airlines. Photo: Japan Airlines 777-200.  By Rob Finlayson.

US Dept. of Transportation on Wednesday gave final approval for antitrust immunity to oneworld members American Airlines and Japan Airlines and, separately, to Star Alliance members United Airlines, Continental Airlines and All Nippon Airways, to operate their respective transpacific joint ventures.

DOT's official clearance of both JVs follows tentative approval last month (ATW Daily News, Oct. 7) and enables the implementation of the US-Japan "open skies" accord to which the two nations agreed late last year (ATW Daily News, Oct. 25). The Japanese government has already approved both partnerships.

ANA President and CEO Shinichiro Ito said, "The clearance enables us to begin the preparatory work necessary to launch our joint venture next spring, and to cooperate more closely with United and Continental for the benefit of customers." UA/CO parent United Continental Holdings President and CEO Jeff Smisek added that the JV will allow for "more convenient, more seamless" transpacific travel.

JAL President Masaru Onishi noted that DOT's approval of its JV with AA "clears all regulatory procedures necessary" for the carriers to begin working "expeditiously" toward implementation. AA said the companies "anticipate launching their transpacific joint business in early 2011. It will provide enhanced travel options and experiences for passengers of both American Airlines and Japan Airlines."

AA plans to launch daily New York JFK-Tokyo Haneda service on Jan. 20. JAL launched daily HND-San Francisco service at the end of October. The carriers will codeshare on the flights.