Competition Markets Authority
Timetable
| Action | Date |
|---|---|
| Interim measures directions expire | March 2026 |
| Investigation continuing: further investigatory steps and assessment of evidence | September 2024 to January 2025 |
| Decision taken to proceed with investigation (further update by September) | June 2024 |
| Further investigation: information gathering, including issuance of information requests, CMA analysis and review of information gathered | September 2023 to June 2024 |
| Decision to issue second interim measures, extending remedy period under 2020 interim measure | 4 April 2022 |
| Decision to issue interim measures directions | 17 September 2020 |
| Decision not to accept commitments | 17 September 2020 |
| Consideration of representations received in response to the consultation on commitments | June to September 2020 |
| Consultation on commitments proposed by American Airlines and International Consolidated Airlines Group closed | 4 June 2020 |
| Consultation on commitments proposed by American Airlines and International Consolidated Airlines Group | 7 May 2020 to 4 June 2020 |
| Discussions with the parties under investigation on proposals for commitments | December 2019 to May 2020 |
| Decision on whether to issue a statement of objections | Winter 2019/20 |
| CMA analysis of parties submissions and assessment | Autumn 2019 |
| Further investigation including analysis of further information requests and submissions | April to Summer 2019 |
| Decision to proceed with the investigation | April 2019 |
| Initial investigation: information gathering, including issuance of information requests, CMA analysis and review of information gathered | October 2018 to March 2019 |
| Investigation opened | 11 October 2018 |
Outcome of the 2023 slot award process
30 January 2024: In accordance with the CMAs Interim Measures Directions issued on 4 April 2022, the CMA has approved the further use of the four available remedy slots by airlines which compete with the AJB airlines, maintaining additional competition whilst the CMA continues its investigation. Following a tender process, Virgin Atlantic Airways has been awarded a daily slot pair to operate services on the London-Boston route for four IATA Seasons commencing in IATA Summer Season 2024. Virgin Atlantic Airways will continue to operate a daily slot pair on the London-Miami route and Delta Air Lines will continue to operate a daily slot pair on each of the London-Dallas (via Atlanta) and London-Boston routes. It is anticipated that all four of the remedy slots will be operated by Virgin Atlantic Airways and Delta Air Lines until the end of IATA Winter season 2025.
Decision to issue interim measures and extending remedies until 2026
4 April 2022: Due to the continued impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the aviation sector and the fact that material recovery is taking longer than was anticipated in 2020, the CMA wants to ensure that the remedies made available under the 2020 Interim Measures continue to be available for 2 additional years. As a result of these unprecedented circumstances, the CMA is not in a position to complete its investigation in advance of the expiry of the 2020 Interim Measures in March 2024. A tender process will take place in autumn 2023 for the remedy slots for the additional 2 years.
- (4.4.22)
- (4.4.22)
The 2022 Interim Measures issued by the CMA will expire in March 2026, by which time it is expected that the airline sector should be in a more stable position. The CMA plans to complete its investigation and, if appropriate, put in place a longer-term remedy, before the interim measures expire.
London-Boston slot awarded in 2021
22 February 2021: The CMA has approved a Slot Release Agreement which will allow a new competitor, United Airlines, to enter the London-Boston route. The CMA has made this award in accordance with the terms of Clause 3 of the CMAs Interim Measures Directions issued on 17 September 2020 and following a tender process in Autumn 2020. In that process, United Airlines was awarded a daily slot pair for six IATA Seasons commencing in IATA Summer Season 2021. The CMA understands that United will announce its plans for servicing the route in due course (taking into account the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions).
Decisions not to accept commitments and to issue interim measures
21 September 2020: A Monitoring Trustee has been appointed, in accordance with clause 10 of the Interim Measures Directions. Find more information about the AJBA Monitoring Trustee or contact Justin.Menezes@mazars.co.uk.
17 September 2020: Having considered representations received in response to the May 2020 commitments consultation and as a result of the uncertainty created by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the aviation sector, the CMA has decided that it would not be appropriate to accept the commitments offered by American Airlines and International Consolidated Airlines Group.
The CMA will not be able to complete its investigation before the expiry of various agreements currently in place pursuant to the Commissions 2010 commitments. This means that an enforcement gap (meaning a situation whereby there are no remedies in place to address the competition issues related to the AJBA) would have arisen if action was not taken urgently on an interim basis. Such an enforcement gap would significantly negatively impact the public interest (i.e. the interests of protecting competition and, by extension, consumers). Accordingly, the CMA has decided to issue interim measures directions.
The interim measures which have been imposed effectively extend the terms of the 2010 Commitments for an additional 3 years until March 2024. Airlines currently operating slots on London to Boston, Dallas and Miami routes pursuant to the 2010 commitments will continue to operate these slots for an additional year, until March 2022.
A tender process will take place in March 2022 for these slots for the remaining two years. A tender process will be undertaken this autumn in relation to a second slot on the London to Boston route.
- (17.9.20)
- (17.9.20)
- (17.9.20)
- Press release: CMA acts to protect competition on UK-US airline routes (17.9.20)
The interim measures issued by the CMA expire in March 2024, by which time it is expected that the airline sector should be in a more stable position. The CMA plans to complete its investigation and, if appropriate, put in place a longer-term remedy, before the interim measures expire.
Consultation on commitments
7 May 2020: The CMA has published a notice of intention to accept the commitments offered by International Consolidated Airlines Group and American Airlines and invited representations from interested third parties. The CMA is seeking views on the proposed package, but this comes at a time when the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is having a major impac