British Airways (BA, London Heathrow) along with JAL - Japan Airlines (JL, Tokyo Haneda) and Finnair (AY, Helsinki Vantaa) collectively, have been granted anti-trust immunity from Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) thereby allowing their joint venture to co-operate on flights between Europe and Japan. The approval, set to come into effect in spring 2014, paves the way for Finnair to join the existing joint business between British airways and JAL. According to a press release, British Airways chief executive officer, Keith Williams, said: "Today's decision by the MLIT will benefit the customers of all three airlines by allowing us to explore ways to improve the connections between East and West."