newswatcher
15th May 2001, 19:04
Reported in several sources yesterday, the European Commission has cleared, under the EU merger regulation, the acquisition of joint control over UK air traffic control provider NATS, by The Airline Group - a group of seven airlines - and the UK government.
The Airline Group is taking a 46 pct stake in NATS, employees 5 pct, and the UK government will retain a 45 pct holding.
The commission found the involvement of British Airways PLC and the other six airlines will not create or strengthen a dominant position, and there are no horizontal overlaps, it said.
The UK government describes the arrangement as a "public/private partnership", with the Airline Group the strategic partner, the commission noted.
The other airlines are Britannia Airways, BMI british midland, easyJet PLC, Monarch Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and Airtours International Airways.
The Airline Group is taking a 46 pct stake in NATS, employees 5 pct, and the UK government will retain a 45 pct holding.
The commission found the involvement of British Airways PLC and the other six airlines will not create or strengthen a dominant position, and there are no horizontal overlaps, it said.
The UK government describes the arrangement as a "public/private partnership", with the Airline Group the strategic partner, the commission noted.
The other airlines are Britannia Airways, BMI british midland, easyJet PLC, Monarch Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and Airtours International Airways.