Press Release: Mergers: Commission clears Iberia’s proposed acquisition of Vueling and Clickair, subject to conditions

The European Commission approved under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of the two Spanish low-cost airlines Vueling and Clickair by the Spanish flag-carrier Iberia on condition that commitments to safeguard competition and passenger choice are implemented. The Commission's clearance is conditional upon the parties releasing slots in Barcelona and other European airports to address competition concerns on several Spanish and other European routes where the proposed concentration would have led to a restriction of competition. In the light of these commitments, which encourage competing airlines to enter or expand on those routes, the Commission concluded that the proposed transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it. The Spanish competition authority submitted a request for the concentration to be referred to them for consideration but subsequently withdrew their request.