U.K. Competition Authority, Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”), made an assessment for the post-Brexit period within the ongoing investigation in aviation industry. The authority is investigating the "Atlantic Partnership Agreement" signed between American Airlines operating in the aviation industry, members of International Airlines Group ("British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus") and Finnair.
The European Commission accepted the commitments offered by the parties in 2010, including the allocation of landing and departure slots to competitors at two London airports on 6 routes, to be binding for a period of 10 years. Following the expiration of the commitments, the CMA decided to reassess the possible impact of the agreement on competition upon the expiration of the commitments, considering that 5 of the 6 routes subject to commitments are in the UK and the European Commission's responsibility is likely not to remain for protecting competition in the UK after BREXIT. In this context, the CMA finally announced on 30 January 2020 that they rejected the Virgin Atlantic Airways' request for interim measures.