the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission authorized Delta Air Lines and Virgin Blue to establish a transpacific joint venture

Following preliminary approval granted in November, to coordinate pricing, revenue management, schedules and route planning. Covering flights between Australia and the United States, "the joint venture is likely to assist Virgin and Delta to compete more effectively against the incumbents on the routes--Qantas and United Airlines," according to an ACCC statement. ACCC noted that the joint venture is contingent on the carriers' antitrust immunity application pending at the U.S. Department of Transportation.