UK authority to re-examine Oneworld transatlantic pact

IAG is preparing a response to the UK competition regulator after it opened a probe into the transatlantic joint business agreement in which 4 carriers participate. The business agreement – which was previously examined by the EC nearly a decade ago – includes BA and Iberia and their Oneworld alliance partners American Airlines and Finnair. When the EC cleared the pact, it had accepted undertakings from the airlines to open competition on 6 transatlantic routes – of which 5 were focused on London. Since this period is due to expire in 2020 – and given the London-centric nature of the commitments – the UK Competition and Markets Authority says it is to “review afresh” the competitive impact of the joint business agreement. “No assumption should be made that the [agreement] infringes competition law,” the authority stresses. <br/>