The Norwegian Competition Authority has approved Norwegian’s acquisition of Widerøe.
The market for air travel is important for Norwegian consumers, and the Competition Authority has therefore thoroughly assessed the acquisition. Amongst other things, the Authority has collected and analyzed detailed information from the parties and other actors in the market for air travel.
On 17 November, the parties were notified that the Competition Authority might prohibit the acquisition. The Competition Authority was concerned that the acquisition would significantly weaken competition in the market for air travel. Following the responses from the parties, the Competition Authority has completed further analyses and concluded that there are not sufficient grounds for prohibiting the acquisition.
– It has been necessary with a thorough examination of the acquisition. We have now concluded that the acquisition will not significantly impede effective competition in the Norwegian market for air travel. Consequently, the acquisition can now be implemented, says Director General Tina Søreide.
A timeline of the case
– 11 August 2023: Notification received
– 15 September 2023: Competition Authority notifies the parties that it needs to continue its assessment of the acquisition (legally imposed 25-day warning)
– 17 November 2023: Competition Authority informes the parties that there could be grounds for prohibiting the acquisition (legally imposed 70-day warning also referred to as a statement of objections)
– 21 December 2023: The Competition Authority approves the acquisition
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Tina Søreide, Director General of the Norwegian Competition Authority.
Press phone: +47 47 66 77 77