Delta and Virgin Atlantic apply for antitrust immunity
Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic Airways have applied for antitrust immunity from the U.S. Department of Transportation for a proposed joint venture on flights between North America and the United Kingdom.
Atlanta-based Delta and British carrier Virgin Atlantic want the ability to coordinate schedules, pricing, sales and other aspects of flights in the North America-U.K. markets with each other and with Delta’s other trans-Atlantic joint venture partners Air France, KLM and Alitalia.
A Delta-Virgin Atlantic joint venture would go up against the American Airlines-British Airways joint venture. Delta said American Airlines with British Airways dominate the market between the U.S. and the U.K., including the New York-London market, which Delta calls “the most important business market in the world.”
Delta announced in December a deal to buy a 49 percent stake in Virgin Atlantic and strike a joint venture with the carrier.
About the Author
As business team lead, Kelly Yamanouchi edits and writes business stories. She graduated from Harvard and has a master's degree from Northwestern.
