Transatlantic Alliance

FOR EXECUTIVES AT BRITISH AIRWAYS AND USAIR, IT must have been a bit like waiting in an airport for a long-delayed flight to take off. After a dizzying series of starts and stalls dating back to last year, the U.S. Transportation Department finally approved cash-hungry USAir's sale of a $300 million stake, or 20% of the airline, to British Air. The move came over the objections of USAir's Big Three rivals -- United, Delta and American -- who claim the deal will give British Air an edge in a new era of global air competition. American's chairman, Robert Crandall, complained that Washington was giving up a piece of the U.S. pie without getting anything in return -- such as a bigger share of Britain's market.