UPDATE: BA Consortium Files Information To US Transport Dept

British Airways PLC (BAY.LN) confirmed Monday the airline, along with other members of the oneworld alliance, have filed further information to the Department of Transportation regarding its antitrust immunity application.

British Airways, AMR Corp.'s (AMR) American Airlines, Iberia Lineas Aereas de Espana SA (IBLA.MC), Finnair OYJ (FIA1S.HE) and Royal Jordanian filed their response March 13 after the DOT requested further information in mid-December.

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.

The U.K. airline has said it hopes to secure approval by September or October. It would target benefits from the planned cooperation by 2010 if it wins approval.

"Granting ATI (antitrust immunity) would bring benefits to customers and increase global competition," a spokesman for British Airways said.

"After the DOT reviews our filing and deems the application complete, it will issue a scheduling order inviting public comment," he added.

When the DOT rules the application is "substantially complete," it has six months to make a ruling.

At 1500 GMT shares were up 5.9 pence, or 4.4% at 139 pence.

Company Web site: www.britishairways.com

                     www.aa.com 
                     www.iberia.com 

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