The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) approved antitrust immunity for six-way alliance activities in trans-Atlantic markets for the SkyTeam carriers of Air France, Alitalia, CSA Czech Airlines, Delta, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Northwest Airlines.
The DOT’s Final Order ruling is the first since the new European Union-U.S. Open Skies agreement went into effect on March 30, which created the largest, most important and fully liberalized air transport marketplace in the world. The DOT has approved more than 20 applications for antitrust immunity in the past, including the recent approval of immunity for nine Star Alliance members.
