Delta, Virgin Blue get nod from Australian regulators for joint venture to coordinate flights

Australian regulators OK Delta, Virgin Blue plan

ATLANTA — Australian regulators approve a joint venture between Delta Air lines and Virgin Blue Airlines Group that would give the carriers greater flexibility in coordinating flights between the U.S. and Australia and to share revenue.

U.S. regulatory approval is pending.

Delta already has immunity from antitrust laws to cooperate closely with Air France-KLM across the Atlantic.

A joint venture allows airlines to share cost and revenue on certain flights regardless of which airline owns or flies the aircraft. It differs from a simple codesharing agreement in which one airline bears all of the cost but another airline might get a share of the revenue for booking a customer on a flight.

Delta started service to Australia over the summer. Virgin Blue Airlines Group operates V Australia.