Dépêches
Allied Pilots Association Applauds DOJ’s Focus on Antitrust Enforcement, Questions DOT Secretary’s Comments
Dépèche transmise le 14 mai 2009 par Business Wire

Allied Pilots Association Applauds DOJ’s Focus on Antitrust Enforcement, Questions DOT Secretary’s Comments
FORT WORTH, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Allied Pilots Association (APA), certified collective bargaining agent for the 11,500 pilots of American Airlines (NYSE: AMR), commended the Justice Department’s stated commitment to pursuing “vigorous antitrust enforcement” as a means of assuring markets remain competitive. Assistant Attorney General Christine Varney advocated greater antitrust enforcement earlier this week in her first public comments since taking office.
“APA strongly supports the Department of Justice’s position that antitrust enforcers ‘can no longer sit on the sidelines,’” said APA President Captain Lloyd Hill. “Our nation’s antitrust laws benefit consumers by ensuring that we preserve an appropriate level of competition.
“However, Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood’s recent remarks in favor of antitrust immunization for airline alliances directly conflict with this philosophy of greater enforcement,” Hill said. “Antitrust immunity is by definition anticompetitive, leaving travelers with fewer choices and higher prices.”
Last month Secretary LaHood proposed granting antitrust immunity to Continental Airlines for its participation in the Star Alliance, which includes United Airlines, Air Canada and Lufthansa Airlines. More recently, he spoke out in favor of approving antitrust immunity for American Airlines’ Oneworld Alliance with British Airways, Iberia, Finnair and Royal Jordanian. In the latter case, interested parties have until May 18 to submit comments.
“Secretary LaHood’s comments are problematic on two levels,” Hill said. “Not only does he stand in diametric opposition to the Obama Administration’s commitment to more vigorous enforcement, but the public comment period concerning American Airlines’ application for antitrust immunity remains open. As a result, we question whether the DOT can be objective in its review of pending antitrust immunity applications.”
APA has been voicing its concerns about immunizing airline alliances for the past several months, likening the results to “virtual mergers.” The union has repeatedly warned about the negative impact on U.S. workers’ job security, market competitiveness and the nation’s security if the airlines are permitted to proceed. On the latter point, U.S. carriers must remain ready to be deployed as needed for Civil Reserve Air Fleet duty. That readiness could be compromised by cross-border airline alliances or a relaxation in foreign ownership restrictions.
Hill noted that APA’s membership has sent thousands of e-mail messages this week to the White House, Congress and the DOT expressing those concerns.
Founded in 1963, the Allied Pilots Association—the largest independent pilot union in the U.S.—is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. APA represents the 11,500 pilots of American Airlines, including 1,969 pilots on furlough. The furloughs began shortly after the September 11, 2001 attacks. Also, several hundred American Airlines pilots are on full-time military leave of absence serving in the armed forces. The union’s Web site address is www.alliedpilots.org. American Airlines is the nation’s second-largest passenger carrier and fifth-largest cargo carrier.
- 15/01 Crash de Sriwijaya Air : une boite noire récupérée et exploitable
- 15/01 Delta Air Lines enregistre un perte record pour l'année 2020
- 15/01 Aegean Airlines : plus de flexibilité pour ses passagers
- 14/01 Air Canada procède à de nouvelles réductions de capacité
- 14/01 Aéroport de Nice : trafic en net repli en 2020
- 14/01 Norwegian Air arrête le long-courrier
- 14/01 Premier vol pour l'Airbus H160 d'All Nippon Helicopter
- 14/01 DHL Express commande huit Boeing 777 supplémentaires
- 14/01 French bee ouvre une boutique éphémère à Saint-Pierre de la Réunion
- 13/01 Aéroport Marseille Provence lance la dématérialisation des réservations parkings et services dans le wallet mobile
- 13/01 Lufthansa Group aide les Australiens à rentrer chez eux
- 12/01 Atlas Air achète quatre Boeing 747-8F
- 12/01 Volotea dit adieu à ses Boeing 717
- 12/01 Korean Air lance son nouveau site internet
- 11/01 Qatar Airways retourne en Arabie Saoudite
- 10/01-MAJ 10/01/2021 11h20 - Crash d'un Boeing 737 en Indonésie (photos)
- 10/01 L'Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace a reçu son premier Mirage 2000D modernisé
- 09/01 La Fondation Antoine de Saint Exupéry pour la Jeunesse et le Rallye Toulouse – Saint-Louis du Sénégal invitent un équipage de jeunes pilotes sur la prochaine édition du rallye
- 08/01 Airbus : commandes et livraisons de l'année 2020
- 08/01 Boeing versera 2,5 milliards de dollars dans le cadre de l'enquête des accidents du 737 Max