3.6.2015   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 182/6

1.

On 27 May 2015, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which International Consolidated Airlines Group, SA (‘IAG’, United Kingdom and Spain) acquires indirectly within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of Aer Lingus Group, plc (‘Aer Lingus’, Ireland) by way of a public offer.

2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—   for IAG: IAG is the holding company of each of British Airways plc, Iberia Líneas Aéreas de España SA, and Vueling Airlines, SA. The IAG airlines fly to around 200 destinations. IAG is active in scheduled passenger air transport; cargo air transport; maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services; and airport groundhandling services,

—   for Aer Lingus: Aer Lingus serves more than 75 destinations, primarily in the EEA and North America. Aer Lingus is mainly active in scheduled passenger air transport.

3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved.

4.

The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax (+32 22964301), by email to COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu or by post, under reference number M.7541 — IAG/Aer Lingus, to the following address: