Australia watchdog okays Virgin Blue-Delta joint venture

02 November 2009 @ 09:51 am EDT

Australia's competition watchdog gave initial approval on Monday to a joint venture between local airline Virgin Blue Holdings Ltd and Delta Air Lines for flights between Australia and the United States.


Australia watchdog okays Virgin Blue-Delta joint venture
A Delta Air Lines jet takes off past a Northwest Airline jets parked at gates at the Minneapolis St.Paul International Airport in Minneapolis, Minnesota October 30, 2008. Delta Air Lines swallowed rival Northwest Airlines Inc on October 29 in a $2.6 billion merger that created the world's biggest airline and prompted new speculation about further industry consolidation.
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"The joint venture is likely to assist Virgin Blue and Delta to compete more effectively against the incumbents on the routes, Qantas and United Airlines," Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Chairman Graeme Samuel said in a statement on Monday.

(Reporting by Mark Bendeich; Editing by Michael Perry)

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