British Airways announced contingency plans ahead of a planned cabin crew union strike called for 20-22 March. The airline intends to serve "60 percent of customers originally booked to fly on these days" by operating 60 percent of longhaul and "some" shorthaul flights from Heathrow (supplemented by 22 leased aircraft and crews); "all" longhaul and "more than half" of shorthaul flights from Gatwick; and "all" flights to and from London City airport. Flights by BA subsidiary OpenSkies are unaffected. BA is offering rebooking options and has agreed with "more than 60 other carriers" that customers can be rebooked free of charge during the actual strike period, according to the airline. For a second strike planned for 27-30 March, the airline has not changed or cancelled the "the vast majority" of scheduled flights.

U.S. and European regulators achieved "significant progress" on a second-stage air services agreement, according to a European Council report. During the most recent Open Skies talks in February in Madrid, the two sides resolved issues related to "environmental protection, labor standards, competition rules and reciprocal recognition of regulatory decisions," the report stated. The next round of negotiations is scheduled for 23-25 March in Brussels. The Council wants resolution on all outstanding issues including "fully open access to the U.S. domestic market."

To win approval from European regulators for a joint venture, AA, BA and Iberia agreed to give up slots at London and/or New York airports for transatlantic services, according to the European Commission. Such slots at London Gatwick, London Heathrow and New York JFK would "facilitate entry of competitors" on six U.S.-U.K. routes. EC through 10 April is accepting public comments on the airlines' commitments and, subject to those comments, "intends to adopt a decision" that would make binding for 10 years those commitments. In its tentative approval of the American Airlines-British Airways-Iberia antitrust immunity request, the U.S. Department of Transportation also set conditions that include slot transfers to other competitors.

Greece became a member of the U.S. Visa Waiver program. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security determined that Greece "complies with key security and information-sharing requirements." As a result, Greek travelers next month will be able to visit the United States without visas. Greece is the 36th country to join the program.

ANA and Continental Airlines on 28 March will begin sharing codes on transpacific and beyond-hub services. The partners will cross-sell ANA's Tokyo-U.S. flights and certain domestic Japan flights, and Continental flights between Houston and Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco.