International Airlines Group (IAG) CEO Willie Walsh, speaking to ATW on the sidelines of Air Berlin's oneworld joining ceremony last week, said he is awaiting word from European Union regulators on the status of IAG's acquisition of British Midland International (bmi).
"At this stage, it is in the hands of the EU regulators," he said. "There is nothing we can do until we get permission."
EU antitrust regulators extended the provisional deadline for a decision on the acquisition from March 16 to March 30. Virgin Atlantic Airways, which also tried to buy bmi, has asked antitrust officials to block the deal, arguing it would harm competition.
Walsh confirmed that the bmi will become part of IAG subsidiary British Airways (BA). "If we get approval, we will integrate bmi as fast as possible into British Airways," he said, adding that integration could take between nine and 12 months. Walsh said bmi pilots will have to be trained for BA's standard operating procedures and bmi's fleet will be repainted in BA colors.
Article Source : ATW Daily News
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