COMESA- Partnership between Kenya Airways and SAA will be considered a merger

The partnership between Kenya Airways (KQ) and South African Airways (SAA) could be treated as a merger, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) said due to its effect on regional competition. Kenya Airways operates in COMESA member states; therefore, it is bound by the community’s regulations and has to notify the COMESA Competition Commission (CCC) of any impending mergers. According to the CCC, it is not the form or the strategy in which the two airlines approach this partnership but rather the effect it has on competition that will determine it as a merger. Both the airline,