Deal Could Be In Place As Early As September

US Airways and All Nippon Airways (ANA) of Japan say they plan to begin a codeshare agreement next month, the latest airlines to discuss international cooperation.

The Dow Jones Newswire reports that, if approved by aviation officials in both countries, the agreement could go into effect September 16th. Frequent fliers on both airlines would receive double miles when flying the other airline's routes through November 30th.

Both airlines are members of The Star Alliance. ANA joined in 1999,and US Airways became a member in 2003. ANA is Japans largest domestic carrier, and the worlds 10th largest airline when measured by passenger load.

The news service reports that the U.S. government is concerned about what it sees as a lack of airline competition on international routes. The three major global alliances, including the Star Alliance, have been criticized that they control too large a portion of the traffic between the U.S. and Europe, which is bad for consumers.

In May, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation that would mean the end to current anti-trust immunity in the next few years. The airlines would be required to reapply for the exemptions, and standards would be raised. The measure is facing a difficult time in the U.S. Senate, and is not guaranteed to become law.

FMI: www.staralliance.com