Although the Department of Transportation (DOT) approved Continental Airlines' request to receive antitrust immunity to coordinate with United Airlines' Star Alliance in April, the Justice Department may be standing in the way. On Wednesday, Attorney General Eric Holder announced during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing that he wants the DOT to work with him "in making a determination in how this particular alliance should be viewed."
About a year ago, Continental left Delta Air Lines' SkyTeam alliance to join the Star Alliance. If the airline does not receive immunity then it will not be allowed to coordinate fares and schedules with Star Alliance on transatlantic flights, according to U.S. antitrust laws.