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The three-way alliance between British Airways, American Airlines and Spain's Iberia is facing the kind of delay that passengers may find familiar.
US regulators are dragging their heels on giving the deal the go-ahead, which could mean it will be the new year before loose ends are tied up.
The US Department of Transportation and the US Department of Justice are now unlikely to hit their own deadline of 31 October for confirming that the tie-up doesn't breach competition rules.
The three airlines want to share resources and co-operate on marketing and other strategies. They say they are optimistic that watchdogs in both the US and Europe will approve the deal.
Regulators could demand each player gives up slots at major airports such as Heathrow in order to ensure competition in the industry is not harmed.
