UK Authorities Defend Their Review of BMI Buy
UK competition authorities have defended their review of the BA acquisition of BMI.
The EC approved British Airways’ acquisition of BMI on March 30. (Photo: Ian Sheppard)
The EC approved British Airways’ acquisition of BMI on March 30. (Photo: Ian Sheppard)

British competition authorities have dismissed complaints that they did not investigate the British Airways (BA) bid to buy BMI (the former British Midland International) from Germany’s Lufthansa—a deal approved by the European Commission (EC) on March 30. The UK Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has responded to transport group Stagecoach, which had described the move as “the most fundamental change to the UK domestic air market for many years.”