DOT Tentatively Approves Antitrust Immunity for NWA, Delta to share Atlantic routes

MINNEAPOLIS_Northwest Airlines Corp. and Delta Air Lines Inc. won preliminary approval to share revenue and coordinate schedules across the Atlantic, the Department of Transportation said on Wednesday.

Northwest, Delta, as well as Air France-KLM and two other carriers in the SkyTeam Alliance have sought immunity to essentially operate as one airline across the Atlantic. Northwest has had that permission for KLM for 15 years, before KLM's merger with Air France.

The Transportation Department said it issued a show-cause order tentatively approving the antitrust immunity. A final ruling is due April 30.

The SkyTeam carriers, which also include Alitalia and Czech Airlines, will remain subject to antitrust laws for non-trans-Atlantic flights.

The antitrust immunity in effect gives Northwest and Delta the benefits of a combination, at least for their Atlantic flights. They have been exploring consolidation of the airlines, but that has been held up so far by the failure of their pilots to make a deal on seniority.