British Airways’ parent IAG was last night given the go-ahead to buy Aer Lingus for £940 million.
The approval from the European Commission comes just days after Ryanair agreed to sell its 30% stake in Aer Lingus to IAG.
However, the Commission has insisted that IAG, which also owns Spanish carrier Iberia, gives up five daily slot pairs at Gatwick to increase competition.
IAG has also entered into agreements with airlines that offer long-haul flights out of Heathrow, Belfast, Dublin and Amsterdam to continue providing them with connecting passengers.
IAG’s plans include building a new transatlantic hub at Dublin Airport.
