EC CLEARS PURCHASE OF BY SAIRGROUP OF STAKE IN SAA

   The European Commission has cleared the purchase of a stake of 20 percent in South African Airways by SAirGroup, the Swiss airline group.
    The transaction, which forms part of a partial privatization of SAA by the South African government, will give SAirGroup and the South African holding company Transnet joint control of the airline.
    The EC said that it found that both airlines’ activities are largely complementary and a competitive overlaps exist only if indirect flights from the EU to South Africa are taken into account.
    Given the presence of several strong competitors on this route, the purchase does not give rise to concern, the EC said.
    SAirGroup is a Swiss airline group which includes Swissair, Crossair and Balair.