BA Hasn't Yet Submitted Added Information To US Transport Dept

British Airways plc (BAY.LN) hasn't yet submitted further information to the U.S. Department of Transportation regarding its U.S. antitrust immunity, or ATI, application.

The U.S. regulator requested further information Dec. 19 from BA, AMR Corp's (AMR) American Airlines and Spain's Iberia Lineas Aereas de Espana SA (IBLA.MC) about their potential tie-up, including queries as to any potential capacity and pricing decisions they may adopt.

The antitrust immunity status would bypass monopoly laws in the U.S., allowing BA, American and Iberia to work together on scheduling and pricing. The planned tie-up would also be a revenue sharing deal.

A spokesman for British Airways told Dow Jones Newswires Tuesday, "The Department of Transportation has set no timetable for us to provide the additional information it has requested. The DOT request for information requires very detailed answers and we want to respond to the issues raised as fully as possible.

"Once the work is completed, we will submit all the relevant information."

Given that the joint applicants are requesting global immunity, the DOT required further information on worldwide plans and operations, including the alliance's plans and operations in the Pacific, Australian and Latin American markets.

In addition, the DOT called for additional detail about hub rationalization and code-sharing, as well as how a joint business agreement would affect corporate and travel agency relationships.

Company Web site: www.britishairway.com

                     www.aa.com 
                     www.iberia.com 
 

-By Kaveri Niththyananthan, Dow Jones Newswires; 4420 7842 9299; [e-mail]