Norwegian’s acquisition of Wideroe gets approval |

The acquisition of Norwegian regional airline Wideroe by Norwegian can go ahead. Konkurransetilsynet, the Norwegian Competition Authority, approved the plan on Thursday. This follows after the authority raised concerns a month earlier and said that it might even consider blocking the acquisition. On July 6, Norwegian announced its intention to acquire Wideroe for NOK 11.25 billion ($106 million). Wideroe has a strong position in Norway’s domestic market, operating on 85 of the 107 domestic routes. “Linking Wideroe’s wide-spanning regional route network with Norwegian’s attractive domestic and international routes, secures a customer offering with better connectivity and seamless end-to-end experience,” Norwegian said in July. The airlines notified the Competition Authority in August, which replied in September that it needed to assess the implications of the acquisition. On November 17, the Authority informed the two airlines that it might prohibit the acquisition. It was concerned that the two would become too dominant in the Norwegian domestic market and weaken competition. In the past weeks, Norwegian and Wideroe submitted further details of their plans. “The Competition Authority has completed further analyses and concluded that there are not sufficient grounds for prohibiting the acquisition,” it said on Thursday. “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.” More choice for customers Norwegian CEO Geir Karlsen is pleased with the approval. In a media statement, Karlsen said: “The acquisition will give customers a better route network, more choice, and will help secure Norwegian jobs. With this, our customers will be able to travel seamlessly across our route networks, both in Norway and internationally. We will have a more efficient operation and ensure a strong Norwegian aviation industry with local jobs and orderly working conditions." Wideroe CEO Stein Nilsen said: "We have great respect for the fact that this has been a demanding case for the Norwegian Competition Authority. The documentation has been very extensive. We are now looking forward to working with Norwegian to offer better and more competitive travel for those who depend on aircraft such as public transport." Norwegian said in July that Wideroe will continue as a separate entity and keep its name, which dates back to its founding in 1934. The carrier is based in Bodo but operates out of five hubs on a network of more than 300 routes to 114 destinations in the Nordic country and Europe. The domestic network includes 40 regional airports that are served under the Public Service Obligation contract. This contract will remain unchanged, Nilsen said.

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