United Airlines objects to Cathay-American code-share


Other carriers have been denied similar requests in the past

[HONGKONG] US-based United Airlines yesterday opposed a planned code-share service between Cathay Pacific Airways and American Airlines, saying it and
other airlines had been denied similar applications in the past.

United said in a statement that it had asked the US Department of Transportation to dismiss or defer approval of the Cathay-American Airlines proposal to operate
a code-share service to the United States.

And it called on Hongkong to liberalise its aviation policies and bring code-sharing within the reach of all airlines.

United's vice-president of international and regulatory affairs Michael Whitaker said the Cathay-American Airlines proposal "simply is not authorised under the
current US-Hongkong bilateral air services agreement".

"Unfortunately, policy-makers in Hongkong have consistently been opposed to any liberalisation that would allow code sharing or competing intra-Asia services
by United or other US carrier," Mr Whitaker said in a statement.

"But until Hongkong agrees to open its air service agreement to competition by all carriers, Cathay and American cannot expect the US government to give them
preferential treatment." Mr Whitaker said liberalisation would strengthen Hongkong's position as a gateway to China and a regional and international avaition hub.

He said any new aviation agreement would have to provide third-country code-share opportunities and rights to serve other destinations in Asia beyond
Hongkong, including points in India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore.

Last month, Cathay announced it had signed a comprehensive code-share agreement with American Airlines, which was expected to be implemented this summer
pending government approval.

The Hongkong carrier said at the time that the current Hongkong-US air transport agreement did not specifically authorise code-sharing between US and
Hongkong carriers.

However, it said formal negotiations were scheduled to take place in Hongkong in April, after the two governments recently held discussions regarding potential
revisions to the agreement.

Under the deal, Cathay Pacific passengers could use American Airlines domestic services, as well as flights between the US and certain Latin American
destinations. -- AFP