BMI SALE TO INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES GROUP

That this House has serious concerns about the impact on competition and passenger choice of the sale of British Midland International to the owner of its principal competitor; recognises the importance of services to Heathrow Airport because ofthe connectivity provided by the airport to the rest of the world; notes that competition in the air travel market is good for Scottish passengers, businesses and the economy, as well as the other nations of the UK; is concerned that this sale risks creating a monopoly for any airline which could lead to higher prices and poorer services; and given the vast majority of affected passengers will be UK citizens, calls on the UK competition authorities to scrutinise the deal to ensure that any competition issues are fully understood and addressed.