U.S. DOT APPROVES NORTHWEST/KLM/ALITALIA ALLIANCE
The U.S. Department of Transportation Friday granted antitrust immunity to
Alitalia Italian Airlines to join an alliance with Northwest Airlines and KLM Royal Dutch
Airlines.
The approval will allow the three airlines to closely align their routes
and products.
Northwest and KLM were the first two airlines to gain antitrust immunity in
1993 and have extensively integrated their operations. KLM and Alitalia have also
developed an extensive alliance for both passenger and cargo services.