Mergers, acquisitions and ‘fair’ competition in the airline industry

This article attempts to introduce new thought on the subject of consolidation in the airline industry. The rapid consolidation witnessed in the years following deregulation and liberalisation of North American and European markets is arguably different from the more recent experience. Only a few ‘mega’ legacy carriers and their subsidiaries remain today in the wake of significant and widespread waves of consolidation of recent years. Are unfair practices and market distortions the catalysts? In this article, ‘mergers and acquisitions’ in the airline industry are briefly considered in light of wider global efforts to safeguard ‘fair’ competition in the airline industry