EU resumes Air Canada/Transat merger review, sets December 11 deadline

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – EU antitrust regulators have resumed their investigation into Air Canada’s proposed acquisition of rival Canadian carrier Air Transat and set a deadline of December 11 for a decision.

The European Commission, which oversees competition policy in the 27-member European Union, suspended its investigation in June as it waited for the companies to provide certain data.

The Commission opened an in-depth study of the planned C$720 million ($552.8 million) acquisition in May, saying it had concerns that it would result in higher prices and less choice for flights between Europe and Canada.

A filing by the Commission showed that the suspension had now ended and that a December 11 deadline had been set.

(Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop)