DOT proposes to grant antitrust immunity to Virgin Australia and Delta

The U.S. Department of Transportation proposed grant of antitrust immunity to Delta Air Lines and Virgin Australia Airlines, which will allow the airlines to implement their joint venture, expanding their reach between the U.S., Australia and the South Pacific region. The alliance will create a comprehensive, fully integrated network able to serve thousands of city-pairs in North America and the South Pacific. Delta alone serves a single point in Australia, Sydney, and Virgin Australia’s international airline, V Australia, flies only to Los Angeles. The antitrust immunized alliance will allow the airlines to fully cooperate on network planning and distribution to deliver a more attractive and competitive service for customers.