enabling the carriers to
jointly set prices, plan flights and provide a "streamlined offering for
corporate customers" between the United States and Australia. DOT
concluded that the airlines have no overlapping service between the two
countries, and "American is unlikely to become a nonstop competitor
between the U.S. and Australia," due to aircraft and labor limitations. As
such, "no reduction in the number of nonstop competitors would result from
approving the application," DOT concluded. According to MIDT booking data
evaluated by DOT, Qantas holds 40 percent share between the United States and
Australia, followed by antitrust-immune partners United and Air New Zealand (27
percent) and the Delta and V Australia joint venture (22 percent), whose
application for antitrust immunity DOT approved last year. Australian
authorities similarly have approved the American-Qantas venture.