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Related Newslog Items 15 June 2010 Delta Air Lines and Air France KLM "expect to add Alitalia to the joint venture in the coming weeks," according to Delta president Ed Bastian. SkyTeam partners Delta and Air France KLM began their transatlantic joint venture in 2008. In 2009, Italian flag carrier Alitalia--also a SkyTeam member--signed a new deal with and agreed to sell a minority stake to Air France KLM. 16 March 2010 British Airways announced contingency plans ahead of a planned cabin crew union strike called for 20-22 March. The airline intends to serve "60 percent of customers originally booked to fly on these days" by operating 60 percent of longhaul and "some" shorthaul flights from Heathrow (supplemented by 22 leased aircraft and crews); "all" longhaul and "more than half" of shorthaul flights from Gatwick; and "all" flights to and from London City airport. Flights by BA subsidiary OpenSkies are unaffected. BA is offering rebooking options and "has also agreed with 40 other carriers that customers can be rebooked free of charge during the actual strike period," according to the airline. For a second strike planned for 27-30 March, the airline has not changed or cancelled the "the vast majority" of scheduled flights. 23 February 2010 Lufthansa pilots agreed to suspend strike activity through 8 March, and the airline said a normal intercontinental flight schedule would resume on 26 February. 1 February 2010 EC confirmed it is "assessing" commitments by AA, BA and Iberia meant to allay competitive concerns related to their proposed joint venture. The European Commission in September sent oneworld partners American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia a statement of objections as part of its antitrust investigation. EC also continues "parallel investigations" into cooperation among Star Alliance members and among SkyTeam alliance members.
4 January 2010 ANA, Continental Airlines and United Airlines asked U.S. regulators to approve an antitrust-immunized transpacific joint venture. The "metal-neutral" agreement would encompass sales, marketing, scheduling, distribution, pricing, loyalty programs and other functions, and position the three Star Alliance partners to pursue "joint bids for government and corporate contracts." 13 October 2009 Lufthansa in mid-2010 plans to relaunch inflight Internet connectivity. Satellite-based FlyNet service will include wireless Internet access, the ability to connect to virtual private networks and "data transfer over standard GSM/GPRS mobile networks." Working with Panasonic, Lufthansa "plans to equip a major part of its long-range fleet with FlyNet within the first year of operation." The airline announced no specific price points, but said customers will be able to select hourly or monthly flat rates, or redeem loyalty program points as payment. Lufthansa offered inflight Internet access between 2004 and 2006, furnished by now-defunct Connexion by Boeing. 2 October 2009 EC sent American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia a "statement of objections" regarding proposed transatlantic cooperation. Specifically, the European Commission said the oneworld allies' agreements to coordinate commercial, operational and marketing activities for passenger services "may be in breach of European rules on restrictive business practices." EC said its statement of objections "does not prejudge the final outcome" of its investigations. EC also continues to investigate similar cooperation by Star Alliance and SkyTeam allies. 1 October 2009 Lufthansa on 1 November will own all of bmi after a Lufthansa-affiliated holding company acquires a 20 percent bmi stake held by SAS Group. According to a Lufthansa statement, LHBD Holding Limited will pay SAS £19 million (US$30 million) for its stake plus another £19 million "for the cancellation of its rights resulting from the shareholder agreement dated 1999." Lufthansa in June reached a deal with bmi chairman Sir Michael Bishop to acquire a controlling interest in the U.K. carrier. 3 September 2009 The Star Alliance introduced a program for meeting planners. Applicable for "most meetings of 50 people or more, with attendees originating in at least three different countries," the program includes an online request for proposal, discounts between "10 percent and 20 percent," and bookings through the meeting planner's "appointed travel agency," according to Star Alliance. Conditions vary by market and Star members ANA, LOT Polish Airlines, South African Airways and Thai Airways currently do not participate.
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