The UK's Competition and Markets Authority is consulting on whether to accept commitments from five airlines to resolve competition concerns over their transatlantic cooperation, the regulator said Friday.

British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, American Airlines (AAL), and Finnair coordinate on UK-US flights under the Atlantic Joint Business Agreement.

The proposed commitments would require American Airlines and British Airways, the only two AJBA airlines operating direct flights on certain routes, to offer flight slots at Heathrow and Gatwick on three key UK to US routes: London to Boston, London to Miami, and London to Chicago.

The commitments would also require them to carry a minimum number of local passengers on the London to Dallas route each year and provide competitors with access to connecting passengers on preferential terms.

Slots at Heathrow and Gatwick are difficult to obtain as airlines retain them if they meet annual usage requirements, making them rarely available. The commitments aim to reduce this barrier, allowing new competition on the affected routes.

The CMA began investigating the AJBA in 2018 as prior commitments imposed by the European Commission neared expiration. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CMA extended key terms for five years. With the airline sector recovered, the regulator is now reviewing the new commitments before making a final decision.

American Airlines Group, Finnair, and International Airlines Group, which owns British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus, did not immediately respond to MT Newswires' requests for comment.

Price: 10.80, Change: -0.34, Percent Change: -3.05