DOT allows Aer Lingus UK to be part of oneworld transatlantic joint venture

Last year, Aer Lingus, while it is not a member of the oneworld alliance, received permission from the US DoT to be a part of the Atlantic Joint Business (AJB) agreement between American Airlines, British Airways, Iberia, and Finnair. Now, the joint venture agreements will include the upcoming long-haul transatlantic Aer Lingus operations out of Manchester Airport under the Aer Lingus UK banner. In a letter to counsel for Aer Lingus, Todd M. Homan, Director of the Office of Aviation Analysis, confirmed that the DoT will consider Aer Lingus UK, as the entity exists today, as an immunized affiliate of Aer Lingus under the immunized AJB. The same provisions and obligations will bind the UK branch of Aer Lingus as the Irish branch of Aer Lingus. Aer Lingus UK will participate in the joint venture in a metal-neutral fashion. The airline will target transatlantic routes out of Manchester, a weaker airport for oneworld airlines in the United Kingdom. Aer Lingus UK will continue to be viewed as an immunized affiliate of Aer Lingus so long as it holds underlying economic authority to conduct and market air services between the United Kingdom and the United States. Certain actions, such as Aer Lingus UK independently marketing its own services using its own airline code, must be submitted to the Office of Aviation Analysis at the DOT for review.<br/>