All Nippon Airways has been granted antitrust immunity for proposed trans-Pacific cargo joint venture between All Nippon Airways (ANA) and United Airlines (UA) by MLIT (Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism). ANA applied to MLIT in November 2014 for antitrust immunity, enabling the two carriers to create a more efficient and comprehensive trans-Pacific air cargo business network.

The antitrust immunity enables ANA and UA to jointly manage activities covered by the air cargo joint venture – including network planning, pricing, sales, and handling – on specified trans-Pacific routes. This cargo joint venture is the first of its kind between Asia and the Americas, and would generate substantial service benefits for freight customers including an expanded network, greater capacity and expedited transport.

The two carriers aim to introduce the joint approach on shipments originating from Japan to the US and Canada in 2015 with their 168 flights per week on trans-Pacific, and upon readiness extend scope on shipments vice versa with 336 flights per week, and expand its scope countries in Asia and Latin America with 392 flights per week (IATA summer schedule 2015 basis).