Branson attacks BA’s Iberia/AA plans

British Airways, American Airlines and Iberia, all members of the Oneworld global airline alliance, announced on the 14 August 2008 that they had signed a 'joint business agreement' covering flights between North America and Europe. They intended to co-operate commercially on flights between the US, Mexico and Canada, and the European Union, Switzerland and Norway while continuing to operate as separate legal entities.

The airlines (and other OneWorld partners) will need to secure antitrust immunity from the US and European competition authorities to form a transatlantic joint venture.

BBC News, 14.8.08: BA seals alliance with American http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7560790.stm

BBC News, 12.8.08: BA's American dream http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/robertpeston/2008/08/bas_american_dream.html

American Airlines, 14.8.08: American Airlines, British Airways, and Iberia Sign Joint Business Agreement http://www.americanairlines.co.uk/content/uk/pressReleases/pr_jba.jhtml

Virgin Group: BA/AA and Iberia: The facts http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/tridion/images/ba_aa_tcm4-648448.pdf

Virgin Group: Press Release, 15.8.08 http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/tridion/images/BAAlliance_tcm4-648503.pdf

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