BRITISHAirways and American Airlines still claim to be committed to an alliance, despite an expected announcement by US regulators refusing their proposed tie-up.
As Travel Weekly went to press, the US Department of Transportation was set to rule against granting BA/American anti-trust immunity which would allow the airlines to co-operate on prices andschedules.
BA and American said they would continue to build up their alliance through Oneworld and in areas which did not require anti-trustimmunity.
The end of BA/American negotiations could speed up a settlement of open-skies talks, which up to now have been reliant on an agreement to allow the BA and American alliance. Last month’s open-skies talks were postponed after BA failed to agree to conditions on giving up Heathrow slots.