AIRLINES

U.S. OKs Talks on Airline Smoking Ban: The Transportation Department said it has granted antitrust immunity to eight U.S. and foreign carriers to discuss a mutual ban on transatlantic flights. Transportation Secretary Federico Pena said the immunity was given to American, Continental, Northwest, Trans World Airlines, United, USAir, British Airways and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. The talks will follow a November accord among the United States, Canada and Australia to ban smoking on flights among the three nations by their carriers and a move by Delta Air Lines to ban smoking on international flights.