EC finds no adverse effects on competition

The pending merger of Delta and Northwest Airlines passed one more hurdle last week when the deal got an unconditional approval from the European Commission, which decided that a combination of the two carriers would not adversely affect competition across the Atlantic or within Europe. The commission noted that the two airlines already cooperate in the SkyTeam global alliance. The merger still faces other approvals, most significantly that of the U.S. government, which will have to decide whether it meets antitrust guidelines. “We continue to work closely with the U.S. Department of Justice and remain confident that we will be able to finalize the merger by the end of the year,” said Delta CEO Richard Anderson. The two companies had always been shooting for an approval by year’s end, because a new administration will come to power in January, and with it a new Justice Department that might take a harder line on mergers than the Bush regulators. If the merger goes through, the combined airline – which will call itself Delta – will fly to 390 destinations in 67 countries.