Alaska Airlines to seek approval to join American's transatlantic and transpacific joint ventures

Alaska Airlines will join the two joint businesses American Airlines runs with partners across the Atlantic and Pacific, the carriers said. The two airlines intend to apply to the U.S. Department of Transportation for approval and antitrust immunity within the next few months.

In a joint business, carriers coordinate schedules, sell seats on each other's flights, extend loyalty perks to one another's customers and split revenue on some services.

Alaska executive vice president and chief commercial officer Andrew Harrison said in a release that membership would put the airline on an equal footing with its rivals and give its customers easier access to international destinations, while keeping the service and loyalty benefits its passengers are used to. American chief commercial officer Nat Pieper said the airline was pleased to expand a partnership it has held with Alaska for years, adding that working with its joint business partners on both oceans widens a worldwide network for travellers.

American's Atlantic joint business already includes British Airways, Iberia, Finnair, Aer Lingus and Level of Spain. Its Pacific joint business partner is Japan Airlines. American and Alaska already share loyalty benefits, and both belong to the oneworld alliance, which permits codesharing and other cooperation between members.