Some further info....Borghetti says Virgin needs alliances...

Some further info....
Borghetti says Virgin needs alliances
September 14, 2010 - 2:19PM
AAP
Virgin Blue Holdings Ltd chief executive John Borghetti says airlines based in the Australian region need alliances to offer travellers international networks and the benefits that go with them.
Mr Borghetti said in Sydney on Tuesday that he was "very disappointed" that US regulators indicated that they would block Virgin Blue's proposed alliance with Delta Airways.
The US Department of Transportation announced last week that Delta and Virgin Blue had not demonstrated the proposed alliance would produce sufficient benefits to consumers to warrant immunity from US anti-trust laws.
Mr Borghetti said it was "impossible for any airline based at this end of the world to offer a global network on its own".
"There is a need for a second Australian airline to operate an extensive competitive international network.
"Without them, tourism, competition and our economy will be the losers."
Mr Borghetti said Virgin needed need to improve its competitive position for both corporate and leisure travellers to turn the trans-Tasman routes to profit and this what the proposed alliance with Air New Zealand Ltd was designed to do.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's (ACCC) ruled last Friday that Virgin Blue and Air New Zealand's proposed alliance was "likely to reduce competition".
The ACCC ruling came one day after the US competition regulators ruled against the Delta alliance.