DOT says no to Northwest and Delta
The Transportation Department said in a proposed order that it had rejected the bankrupt carriers' request for regulators to waive antitrust restrictions on routes and fees flown by members of the SkyTeam alliance.
Regulators said the airlines' did not prove that the legal waiver would provide significant benefits to consumers, including lower fares.
The agency said, however, that Delta and Northwest could code-share with the other SkyTeam members, which would give the group some of the benefits they were seeking.
Robert P. Mark
12/22/2005
The US government on Thursday tentatively denied a bid by Northwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines to substantially enhance their marketing ties with three European carriers. The Justice Department recommended in August that the government not approve the waiver.12/22/2005
The Transportation Department said in a proposed order that it had rejected the bankrupt carriers' request for regulators to waive antitrust restrictions on routes and fees flown by members of the SkyTeam alliance.
Regulators said the airlines' did not prove that the legal waiver would provide significant benefits to consumers, including lower fares.
The agency said, however, that Delta and Northwest could code-share with the other SkyTeam members, which would give the group some of the benefits they were seeking.
