MALAYSIAAirlines has made a significant step towards joining the KLM/Northwest Airlines-led global alliance.
The Asian carrier has asked the US Department of Transportation to approve a wide-ranging alliance with Northwest to cover code-sharing, joint purchasing, airport and frequent-flyer co-operation on transpacific routes.
If the US department agrees the partnership’s demands for anti-trust immunity, it would be the first agreement between a US and Asian carrier and inevitably lead to more tie-ups. Others pending include United Airlines and Singapore Airlines and American Airlines and Cathay Pacific.
Malaysia’s entry into the KLM/Northwest alliance gives the group an important Asian member to add to Alitalia, Continental Airlines, Kenya Airways and Braathens.