(MENAFN) British Airways parent IAG offered to connect passengers from Ireland with rivals' long-haul flights out of London in an attempt to allay EU antitrust concerns over its bid for Irish carrier Aer Lingus Group, Gulf Times reported.
The business is designed in particular to assuage Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic Airways, which has expressed competition concerns about the deal, according to the people, who asked not to be identified, as the talks are ongoing.
Buying Aer Lingus would win IAG scarce take-off and landing positions at Heathrow, Europe's top hub, where British Airways is the No. 1 carrier, as well as opening up trans-Atlantic routes via Ireland.
IAG said its engagement with the Brussels-based commission is ongoing. Virgin Atlantic said its position hasn't changed and that guarantees need to be made to ensure IAG works with Aer Lingus' existing partners.
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