An new international alliance of airlines has gained tentative approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The alliance, dubbed "Oneworld Airline," would include partners British Airways (BAIRY), Iberia Airlines, Finnair, Royal Jordanian Airlines and American Airlines (AMR).

Final approval by remains contingent upon certain conditions, including the requirement that the alliance relinquish a percentage of its highly valued takeoff and landing slots at London's Heathrow Airport. Members of the alliance have also offered the possibility of sharing transatlantic routes with competitors in an effort to quell fears of unfair competition which are being expressed from within the European Union.

Continue reading Airline Alliance Set to Clear Antitrust Hurdle

Airline Alliance Set to Clear Antitrust Hurdle originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) just got the relief it needs to compete. Despite resistance from the Department of Justice (which can only recommend), the Department of Transportation has granted the airline immunity from antitrust laws. This clears the way for Continental to work with United Airlines (NASDAQ: UAUA) -- and other carriers -- on international routes. Now, the airline can join Star Alliance, which already has antitrust immunity.

At the same time, DOT approved a joint venture among Continental, United, Lufthansa (OTC: DLAKY) and Air Canada. This new relationship would involve trans-Atlantic routes.

Continue reading DOT overrides Justice, Continental Airlines wins antitrust relief

DOT overrides Justice, Continental Airlines wins antitrust relief originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Last week the House voted a whopping 411-3 to approve HR 1773, the Safe American Roads Act of 2007, which would set strict criteria and additional oversight of the DOT's Mexican pilot program announced in February. The vote attempts to slow the Department of Transportation's proposed pilot plan to a crawl until the DOT inspector general can certify in advance its department has met all 22 conditions Congress set back in 2001, before the U.S. southern border would be opened. The measure would require the DOT to publish detailed plans for its program, including the results of its safety audits of Mexican carriers, as well as giving U.S. truckers access to Mexico when the border opened.

If the U.S. Department of Transportation finds Mexican trucking companies violate U.S. safety regulations, the proposed pilot program would be terminated immediately.

Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (Republican, W.Va), a House Transportation Committee member, said "There are serious flaws in the department's pilot program, and this legislation addresses them." One of the new law's provisions, which Capito backs, is the requirement that Mexican truck drivers speak English proficiently. Rep. Capito endorsed the law giving Mexican truckers access to U.S. roads only if they follow U.S. safety rules.

Before the vote, the DOT said it was almost ready to allow trucks from Mexico into the U.S., but the House, and other special interest groups, obviously disagree. Ken Hall, a Teamsters International Vice President, said Mexico has lax or nonexistent trucking laws. Last year, [the Teamsters] hired an independent investigator who found Mexican drivers had bad equipment and routinely used drugs." Jacqueline Gillan, vice president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, said "The vote was a bipartisan check on a runaway demonstration project that lacked any public input and violated current law."

The DOT now says it could be as late as 2008 before Congress's new criteria are met.

House imposes stronger restrictions to limit Mexican trucks in the U.S. originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 21 May 2007 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading U.S. trucking industry saved by Congress' actions

U.S. trucking industry saved by Congress' actions originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 04 May 2007 17:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.