US tentatively approves adding Aer Lingus to Oneworld alliance group

Aer Lingus received tentative US approval on Monday to join the Oneworld carrier alliance, the US DoT announced, a move that will give the joint venture control of more than half of the US-Ireland flight market. Airlines are expected to expand capacity on some existing routes while introducing service on several new routes, allowing more options for travel between the US and Ireland as well as the rest of Europe, the department said. The carriers requested the US agency extend the joint venture's antitrust immunity to include Aer Lingus. The approval will integrate Aer Lingus into Oneworld's network planning, pricing and sales. Aer Lingus controls 44% of the US-Ireland flight market, a figure that will rise to 60% for the alliance. Despite the alliance's majority market share, the US regulator noted steps that it said would support competition. As a condition of approval, the department proposed Oneworld maintain commitments to release landing and takeoff gate slots at London airports to competitors. Those were imposed when the alliance was first approved in 2010. In addition, the US Transportation Department noted the presence of a strong competitor outside the alliance. It said the second-largest carrier in the Irish-US market, low-cost airline Norwegian, "has shown an aggressive ability to challenge established carriers in the transatlantic market with its low-fare pricing model."<br/>