U.S. DOT approves Continental joining alliance Fri Jul 10, 2009 12:17pm EDT
WASHINGTON, July 10 (Reuters) - The Obama administration on Friday granted limited immunity from antitrust laws for Continental Airlines Inc (CAL.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) to join United Airlines, a unit of UAL Corp (UAUA.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), and other carriers in the global Star Alliance.
The final U.S. Transportation Department order followed a provisional decision in April that granted more sweeping benefits to the carriers. The nearly two dozen members of the Star Alliance include US Airways Group Inc (LCC.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), Deutsche Lufthansa AG (LHAG.DE: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), Air Canada (ACa.TO: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) (ACb.TO: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), Air China Ltd (601111.SS: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), and Thai Airways International THAI.BK.
The immunity designation allows alliances to maximize revenues by operating crucial aspects of their businesses as one company, a practice normally prohibited by federal antitrust laws. The Star Alliance was created in 1997 with member airlines offering a combined 17,000 daily departures to 160 countries.
The order, signed by Christa Fornarotto, an acting assistant secretary at the Transportation Department, limited antitrust immunity for some U.S. routes to Canada and to Beijing, acknowledging concerns raised by antitrust officials at the U.S. Department of Justice.
"The venture, as well as the broader alliance, will create substantial new service options and fare benefits for consumers," said the 3O-page order. "After careful consideration of DOJ's and other parties' arguments, we confirm our tentative decision that this application is not anti-competitive."
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