AA already does this for DB and SNCF
http://www.aa.com/aa/i18nForward.do?...tsche_bahn.jsp
http://www.aa.com/aa/i18nForward.do?...tners/SNCF.jsp

I was surprised by the S7 announcement. It seems that Air Berlin is logically and strategically a much better fit for the alliance than S7.

It will be interesting to see where AB goes. It's highly unlikely to join *A, so either it stays independent or it goes to OW or ST. I'm hoping for OW, especially if MA goes under...

Seems like there is more threat of BA going under than MA at the moment :)

Per FlightGlobal / Air Transport Intelligence news:

OW Managing partner John McCulloch says: "Oneworld is ramping up its cost reduction activity. Like other alliances, we have focussed more on joint revenue than cutting costs and our ambition is to do much more on that."

The claim is that there has already been $310 million in savings through joint procurement.

AA CEO and OW chairman Gerard Arpey reportedly said that there are few opportunities remaining without diluting the alliance's model, but OW is "paying attention to developments" in both South America and mainland China.

Concerning the anti-trust application, Arpey says: "The circumstances today are dramatically different to last time we applied. If facts matter, we are very optimistic we will receive approval on both sides of the Atlantic."

He said the application has received 3,500 letters of support and "only a handful" of objections. The US ruling is expected October, while the ruling from Europe is expected by December. BA CEO Willie Walsh said: "We have advised the European Commission that we would like them to go forward and present their statement of objections as quickly as possible, preferably by July. We will respond quickly." Iberia CEO Fernando Conte added: "[The clearance] is a must, not only for us, but for our customers."