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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.
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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.
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US Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao has asked for an audit of the Boeing 737 MAX certification process with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
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American Airlines and Qantas have called on the US to "promptly approve" its proposed joint-venture alliance on trans-Pacific routes.