The European Commission has blocked a £950 million ($1.5 billion) bid from British tour operator Airtours for rival First Choice, saying that the deal would give the combined company a position of "collective dominance" in the UK market, together with competitors Thomson and Thomas Cook. The take-over could have resulted in charter airlines Airtours and Air 2000 being merged. Airtours offered to modify its plans to satisfy the Commission, but ran out of time. It may now appeal.
Source: Flight International