Accord de ciel ouvert Japon / Etats Unis

Japan and the US reach an open skies agreement
By Lori Ranson

Negotiators representing the US and Japan late on 11 December reached and open skies agreement.

The first of five rounds of negotiations between the two countries began in May after Japan reversed a long-held stance against liberalizing air travel between the countries.

Access to close in Haneda airport in Tokyo was a key element in the negotiations. In a statement DOT says the new agreement provides growth for US carriers at both Tokyo Narita and ensures fair competition regarding the new opportunities at Haneda.

Haneda will handle international scheduled flights in October 2010 when a fourth runway opens. Recently the Japanese government indicated it would start allocating slots at Haneda for daytime flights to and from the US and Europe. Some US carriers during the open skies negotiations lobbied strongly to ensure favourable times for slots becoming available at Haneda.

Open skies also allows for carriers to apply for anti-trust immunity transpacific routes. Star Alliance partners All Nippon Airways, Continental Airlines and United have indicated they were prepared to submit an application once open skies was achieved.

"Continental is currently discussing deeper cooperation with these two airlines on transpacific routes, and this cooperation would be facilitated by the new open skies agreement," Continental says in a statement.

American Airlines and its partner TPG and Delta along with other members of the SkyTeam Alliance have offered struggling Japan Airlines (JAL) financial packages. If JAL selects the offer from Delta it would result in the carrier leaving the Oneworld alliance anchored by American to join SkyTeam.

Explaining the open skies agreement fulfils a long-standing goal of the US, the country's Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood says: "Once this agreement takes effect, American and Japanese consumers, airlines and economies will enjoy the benefits of competitive pricing and more convenient service."

U.S. DOT Grants Tentative Antitrust Immunity Approval to United, Continental, ANA

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today proposed to grant antitrust immunity that would enable United Airlines, Continental Airlines and ANA to expand their alliance relationship, resulting in enhanced competition, increased fare options and improved schedules and service in trans-Pacific markets.

Benefits of antitrust immunity also include reduced travel times and connection times for passenger and cargo travel, the DOT tentatively found in today’s show-cause order.

Upon final approval of antitrust immunity and the signing of an Open Skies aviation agreement between the United States and Japan, United and Continental intend to establish with ANA a first-of-its-kind trans-Pacific joint venture, jointly managing activities including scheduling, pricing and sales and offering customers a greater selection of routings and a wider range of fare and service options.

“We are pleased with DOT’s action today, and look forward to offering our customers the full range of benefits under our alliance with ANA,” said Jeff Smisek, president and chief executive officer of United Airlines. “We thank the DOT for their thoughtful review, and look forward to final approval.”