Monitoring of the commitments given by IAG to the European Commission in relation to its acquisition of bmi
The CMA is monitoring the commitments given by International Consolidated Airlines Group, S.A (IAG) to the European Commission (the 'Commission') in relation to its acquisition of bmi on 30 March 2012 (Case No COMP/M.6447) (the 'Commitments').
Responsibility for monitoring of the Commitments
Transfer of enforcement powers
Following Commission Decision (EU) 2024/1665 of 12 June 2024, the enforcement powers for Case No COMP/M.6447 concerning the acquisition by IAG of bmi (鈥楥ase M.6447鈥�) were transferred from the Commission to the CMA on 1 July 2024 (the 鈥楾ransfer鈥�). (*)
Post-Transfer, Forvis Mazars LLP continues to be the monitoring trustee (the 鈥楾rustee鈥�) for the monitoring of the Commitments given by IAG to the Commission in relation to Case M.6447 on 30 March 2012 (the 鈥楥ommitments鈥�).
The Commitments and other case related information can be downloaded directly from the .
(*) The CMA鈥檚 monitoring and enforcement powers in relation to transferred EU commitments are set out under Sections 95A and 95B of the Enterprise Act 2002.
Responsibilities of the Trustee
The general responsibilities of the Trustee are set out in section 6 of the Commitments. The Trustee also has specific responsibilities which are set out throughout the Commitments.
Outcome of the Winter 2025 to 2026 slot award process
31 July 2025: Pursuant to Clause 1.1.1 of the Commitments, IAG undertakes聽to, among other things, procure that slots are made available at London Heathrow airport in order to allow one or more prospective entrant(s) to operate or increase their services on the city pairs identified in the Commitments. The CMA has approved a slot release agreement which will allow a new competitor, Riyadh Air, to enter the London-Riyadh route. As part of this process, Riyadh Air has been awarded one daily slot pair commencing in the IATA Winter 2025 to 2026 Season. The CMA has made this award in accordance with Clause 1.2 the definition of 鈥榩rospective entrant鈥� in the Commitments and having concluded that the conditions set out in Clause 1.4.9 of the Commitments are met.
Slot release procedure for IATA winter 2025 to 2026 season
13 March 2025: Launch of slot release procure for IATA winter 2025 to 2026 season. Under the Commitments, applicants are entitled to apply for slots to operate from London Heathrow airport to the following destinations:
- Aberdeen
- Edinburgh
- Nice
- Cairo
- Riyadh
Key dates for the slot release procedure (as defined in the Commitments) for the IATA winter 2025 to 2026 season are set out in the timetable below.
Applicants wishing to apply for slots should apply to the Trustee. Further information is available on the .
Slot release timetable procedure for IATA winter 2025 to 2026 season
| Date | Action |
| 31 July 2025 | Slot release award process completed |
| 12 June 2025 | Deadline for the CMA to: (a) assess whether each Applicant is a viable existing or potential competitor, with the ability, resources and commitment to operate services on the Relevant City Pair(s); and (b) evaluate the formal bids of each Applicant. Trustee informs Applicant whether it qualifies for slots |
| 15 May 2025 | Deadline for applicants to send a request for slots at the same time(s) as those requested previously to the slot coordinator in accordance with the general slot allocation procedure (as defined in the Commitments) and for applicants to send the Trustee their key terms (as defined in the Commitments) business plan and details of any compensation offered |
| 1 May 2025 | Deadline for the CMA (advised by the Trustee) to assess whether the applicant meets the eligibility criteria set out in the definitions of the Commitments |
| 27 March 2025 | Deadline for applicants to submit to the Trustee their Slot Request Application Form, details of their leased out or exchanged slots at London Heathrow and indications of any claim for anonymity |
| 13 March 2025 | Trustee opens the Slot Release Procedure. Applicants may request application documents |
Contact
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Trustee: Justin Menezes, Partner, Forvis Mazars LLP, justin.menezes@mazars.com, 07881 284 080
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CMA: Rhiannon Jackson, Principal Case Officer, rhiannon.jackson@cma.gov.uk, 020 3738 6854
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CMA: Maria Duarte, Director, maria.duarte@cma.gov.uk, 020 3738 6572
Your name and contact details are your personal data. In collecting, receiving, storing, accessing and using your personal data, the CMA, as controller, is processing your personal data. The CMA processes personal data in accordance with data protection law. The CMA is processing your personal data so that it can contact you again, should it need further help or information from you, in order to carry out its merger work under Part 3 of the Enterprise Act 2002. For more information about how the CMA processes personal data and your rights relating to that data, please see our Privacy Notice.
Updates to this page
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Outcome of the Winter 2025 to 2026 slot award process published.
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Timetable updated.
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First published.