The US government yesterday lifted barriers to the possible creation of a giant joint venture

including Air France, KLM, Delta and Northwest. The Department of Transport (DoT) proposed to grant anti-trust immunity to the alliance partners, as well as to Czech Airlines and Alitalia, also members of Skyteam. A final decision should be taken within the next two weeks. Then, Washington should give the four partners up to 18 months to set up a commercial partnership. This is good news for Air France-KLM, notes La Tribune, as the airline would thus dominate transatlantic air transport, far ahead of British Airways. La Tribune