Willie Walsh, British Airways' chief executive, has urged US authorities to let the oneworld alliance enjoy the same transatlantic rights as rivals Star and SkyTeam.
BA is part of the oneworld alliance, which does not have immunity from competition regulations on routes between the EU and the US.
Speaking in Washington DC to the International Aviation Club, Walsh said: ‘The Star and SkyTeam alliances already operate across the Atlantic with the benefit of anti-trust immunity. But surely a market of 800m potential consumers deserves a choice of more than two network providers.
‘If Star and SkyTeam remain the only immunised alliances across the Atlantic, we could end up with an untouchable duopoly.’
He said granting anti-trust immunity to oneworld would bring ‘substantial benefits to US-EU customers by offering an expanded route network, improved schedules and connectivity, greater access to discounted fares, fully reciprocal frequent flyer programmes and integrated corporate deals’.
And he dismissed claims that access for new competitors to Heathrow was restricted, saying the US-EU Open Skies agreement has meant the number of operators flying between Heathrow and the US has more than doubled.
‘Star already possesses more than a quarter of Heathrow slots, far more than any other alliance at a competitor's European hub,’ Walsh said.
The US Department of Transportation is expected to rule on the oneworld anti-trust immunity application by the end of October.
DOT approval would enable British Airways and its oneworld partners American Airlines and Iberia to operate a transatlantic joint business, subject to European Union approval.
The European Commission is also in talks with the oneworld partners about the competitive impact of their plans.
And rival airline Virgin Atlantic has warned that an alliance between BA and AA would create a ‘monster monopoly’.
See also:
Pilots ‘unequivocally opposed’ to BA/AA/Iberia (13/10/2009)
BA/AA/Iberia in talks about EC objections (02/10/2009)
BA looks to the future (31/07/2009)
New Iberia boss boosts BA merger prospects (10/07/2009)