Willie Walsh, chief executive of British Airways, said he was confident of getting approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) in Washington on antitrust immunity for cooperation between the UK flag carrier, Spain’s Iberia and American Airlines. The DOT missed its October 31 deadline for approval.

Meanwhile, the European Commission has sent the three airlines, members of the Oneworld Alliance, a 400 page list of objections. They could be forced to give up valuable take-off and landing slots if they want their long-planned transatlantic tie-up to go ahead, according to documents seen by the Financial Times.