Korean Air is offering to ease entry for the UK’s Virgin Atlantic on specific routes in order to remedy competition concerns over its merger with Asiana.
Virgin Atlantic is in line to join the SkyTeam alliance, of which Korean Air is already a member.
The UK Competition and Markets Authority is opening a consultation on Korean Air’s proposals which were submitted to avoid an in-depth investigation into the tie-up.
According to the authority, Korean Air has offered undertakings to enter a binding framework agreement with Virgin Atlantic to “facilitate its entry” on the specific routes of concern.
Korean Air will also support entry by “one or more” alternative airlines in the event that Virgin cannot meet “certain entry conditions”, the authority adds.
The authority is initiating a public consultation as to whether the proposals are sufficient to address its concerns.
It is inviting views from interested parties until 23 December. The authority has until 23 March next year to consider whether to accept the undertakings, or a modified version of them.
