Delta Virgin Atlantic purchase approved

The European Commission and the US Justice Department have approved Delta Air Lines purchase of 49% of Virgin Atlantic, which was announced in December last year for US$360 million. The EC and the US DoJ said that the acquisition will provide sufficient competition between the US and the UK and offer better services from business travellers. Delta’s application for an antitrust immunity between the two airlines to expand scheduling and frequencies still needs to be approved, however. Once received, Delta plans to launch non-stop services between Seattle and London-Heathrow.