Senate Steps In on BA/AA Alliance

The Senate Judiciary Committee, no doubt unsatisfied with the outcome of the Continental/Star Alliance proceeding, is planning to hold a hearing next month on the pending British Airways/American Airlines/Iberia (oneworld) approval and antitrust immunity application.  See Kaveri Niththyananthan, US Lawmakers to Scrutinize BA, AMR Pact - Sources, Dow Jones Newswires, Aug. 9, 2009 (available here).  According to sources, Sir Richard Branson will be on hand to once again voice his objections to the link-up.  Meanwhile, Virgin America, one of Branson's aviation brainchildren, remains under regulatory scrutiny concerning its ownership profile.  See Petition of Alaska Airlines, Inc. to Institute a Public Inquiry into the Citizenship and Control of Virgin America, Inc., Dkt. No. OST-2009-0037 (Feb. 10, 2009).