UK anti-trust regulator to review BA transatlantic partnership with American Airlines
The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is looking into British Airways’ revenue-sharing partnership with other airlines on transatlantic routes.
The CMA stressed the case is at an early stage and no assumption should be made that the agreement infringes competition law.
The Atlantic Joint Business Agreement, which was first signed in 2008 and later amended, allows members BA, American Airlines, Iberia and Finnair to co-operate on pricing, capacity and schedules between Europe and North America.
The agreement was routinely investigated by the European Commission in 2009-2010 and the current agreement, set up under the European Union, will expire in 2020.
By then, the UK will no longer be part of the EU.
The CMA said the investigation is in line with the approach of the EU and would apply both UK and EU law.
In a statement, the CMA said: "This case is at an early stage and no assumption should be made that the Atlantic Joint Business Agreement infringes competition law."
The airlines have said they will respond to the review.
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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