A PYMNTS Company

US: American and Qantas withdraw application for antitrust immunity

By  |  November 29, 2016

American and Qantas won’t ask the Department of Transportation to reconsider its Nov. 18 decision to block the airlines’ proposed joint venture.

“This is an extremely disappointing sequence of events for Qantas and American Airlines, as well as for customers, and ultimately for trade between the United States and Australia,” the carriers said in a prepared statement. “It follows approval from Australian and New Zealand regulators on the basis that our expanded partnership involved no detriment and would deliver significant benefits for consumers.”

The DOT rejected the carriers’ application for antitrust immunity, saying that the alliance would harm competition because, together, American and Qantas would control 60% of the US-Australia market.

Full Content: Travel Weekly

Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.