Virgin Blue has requested a three week extension from the US Department of Transportation to respond to a tentative decision to disallow its proposed joint venture with Delta Air Lines.
The Australian reports that the airline has requested that the deadline for a response to the decision be extended to October 13, while it is understood that Delta has polled interested parties and that there appears to be no objection to an extension.
Delta and Virgin are expected to widen their arguments that the joint venture will provide greater benefits to the travelling public, an argument that has yet to convince the DOT to grant the two partners antitrust immunity for the proposed joint venture.
