Press Release: Commission clears merger between Air France and KLM subject to conditions

The European Commission authorised on 11 February 2004 a merger between Air France and KLM after the companies successfully resolved concerns about reduced competition, mainly between Paris and Amsterdam and between Europe and the United States. The review of the first significant merger in the European airline industry has led the Commission to seek the surrender of 94 single take-off and landing slots per day. This will enable rival airlines to start a service where competition would have been eliminated or significantly reduced, therefore preserving choice of carriers and competitive prices for European travellers. The Commission also obtained assurances from the Dutch and the French governments that they would give traffic rights to other carriers wishing to stop over in Amsterdam or Paris en route to the United States or other non-EU destinations. They also assured they would refrain from regulating prices on long haul routes where other carriers offer indirect services competing with Air France and KLM.