American Airlines and Qantas are finally able to forge an expanded alliance more than four years after first announcing plans to work closer together on trans-Pacific routes.
The United States government has granted American Airlines and Qantas "tentative approval" to form a joint-venture alliance on trans-Pacific routes with anti-trust immunity.
US Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao has asked for an audit of the Boeing 737 MAX certification process with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
American Airlines and Qantas have called on the US to "promptly approve" its proposed joint-venture alliance on trans-Pacific routes.