Finnair chief executive Pekka Vauramo expects Iberia to be given clearance “any day now” to become a part of the joint venture the Finnish carrier operates with its Oneworld partners British Airways and Japan Airlines on routes between Europe and Japan.
Speaking to Flightglobal during the IATA AGM in Dublin today, Vauramo says the Spanish carrier’s application is currently going “through the approval process in Japan”. Earlier this month, Japan Airlines applied to the country’s transport ministry for antitrust immunity for Iberia to join the partnership.
Asked if he was confident antitrust immunity would be granted to the Spanish carrier, Vauramo replied: “I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t”.
Iberia is planning to begin flights from Madrid to Tokyo Narita on 18 October, and antitrust immunity will allow it to co-ordinate flight schedules and fares with the three other carriers.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
