It now seems that many United States airline unions have intensified their call of greater scrutiny of industry alliances. This is a move that could cause major problems for both existing and proposed deals.

The Allied Pilots Association, also just called the APA, has already urged the United States Department of Transportation to decline American Airlines’ application for worldwide antitrust immunity with British Airways and Iberia. They went on to cite the European Commission’s concerns, as well as the airline’s refusal to address job security.

The president of the Allied Pilots Association, Captain Lloyd Hill, said that as a result of two significant developments during the past few days, they have urged the Department of Transportation to decline American Airlines its application for worldwide antitrust immunity.

He went on to say that the first of those developments was the European Commission’s announcement earlier in the month that American Airlines’ plans may violate rules governing restrictive business practices. He also noted that American Airlines’ management refused to provide industry standard job protection for its pilots. Thus, the association can only conclude that their worst fears would be realized if American Airlines is permitted to proceed with its plans.

Just before those last two developments, the Allied Pilots Association had urged policymakers to progress with caution and conduct full due diligence before making any kind of decision. Hill went on to say that the same concerns that hey have expressed regarding American Airlines’ plans have already cost Americans millions of jobs around the world in other situations.