Aegean Airlines and Olympic Air merger expected to be blocked by EU

Aegean Airlines' plans to merge with Olympic Air is reportedly expected to be blocked by the European Union on 26-Jan-2011 after the airlines failed to offer sufficient concessions to appease the EU regulator's antitrust concerns (Bloomberg, 25-Jan-2011). An EU veto would be the first time the regulator has blocked a deal since it prevented Ryanair from proceeding with a hostile takeover bid for Aer Lingus in 2007.