1.   A commission official said yesterday that the European Commission would approve the alliance today.

2.   Code-share alliances must be approved by the governments of both nations involved.

3.   Delta and its allies asked the U.S. Department of Transportation to approve the alliance, which would require immunity from antitrust regulations.

4.   Earlier this year, Slater had indicated it was possible the alliance could be approved by the end of the year.

5.   EU Competition Commissioner Karel van Miert has already threatened to take Britain to the EU Court of Justice if it approves the alliance over his objections.

6.   If the American-US Airways alliance is approved, passengers with frequent-flier miles in both carriers can combine them for free tickets.

7.   If the United-Delta alliance is approved, United passengers in Chicago could fly nonstop on United to Atlanta.

8.   In the U.S., official power to approve the alliance rests with the Department of Transportation.

9.   The British government said it would not open up Heathrow to additional American carriers unless the United States approved the alliance between American and British Airways.

10.   The government may approve the alliance in the interest of cutting international travel costs.