British Airways and American Airlines

HC Deb 11 December 1996 vol 287 cc278-9W

Sir Peter Fry

To ask the President of the board of Trade what assessment he has made of the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed British Airways-American Airlines alliance (a) for the United Kingdom and (b) for other United Kingdom carriers. [8180]

Mr. John M. Taylor

On Friday 6 December my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade announced that he was seeking from the alliance undertakings in lieu of a reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. He made it clear that without suitable undertakings the alliance would be likely to lead to a significant loss of actual and potential competition.

The text of the competition analysis under European competition law is being made available to interested parties as from Friday 13 December 1996. I will arrange for a copy of this to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.