ANA - All Nippon Airways (NH, Tokyo Haneda) says Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLITT) has granted it antitrust immunity for its proposed trans-Pacific cargo joint venture with United Airlines (UA, Chicago O'Hare).
With the immunity in hand, the two Star Alliance carriers are now free to undertake network planning, pricing, sales, and handling on specified trans-Pacific routes.
"The trans-Pacific cargo joint venture - the first of its kind between the U.S. and Asia - would generate substantial service benefits for freight consumers. It would also enable United and ANA to compete more effectively with other airlines that maintain a significant presence in both markets," the Japanese carrier said in a statement.
ANA already operates a similar venture with Lufthansa (LH, Frankfurt International) subsidiary Lufthansa Cargo (LH, Frankfurt International) on flights between Japan and Europe and vice versa.
