United and American win tentative DOT approval for closer partnership with Japanese airlines

UAL, American near approval for Asia ventures

MINNEAPOLIS — U.S. regulators say they are likely to approve antitrust immunity for two major airline alliances carrying travelers to Asia.

The tentative approval from the Transportation Department on Wednesday would let American Airlines and Japan Airlines coordinate routes and schedules and share revenue on flights across the Pacific. A similar arrangement between United Continental Holdings Inc. and All Nippon Airways also won tentative approval.

The government says the arrangements should lead to lower fares and increased service. The airlines who want to work together already sell tickets on each other’s flights.

The news came the same day that American Airlines, a unit of AMR Corp., and British Airways and Iberia launched their trans-Atlantic joint business.