Alaska Air merger suit judge warns he’ll block pre-trial closing

Alaska Air Group can’t complete its merger with Virgin America unless it gives at least 7 days advance notice to the San Francisco federal court judge presiding over a consumer antitrust case contending the tie-up is anticompetitive. US District judge William Alsup issued an order Thursday warning Alaska Air that “any consummation will be subject to divestiture,” meaning any attempt to close the US$2.6b deal before a December trial will be disallowed by the court, said Joseph Alioto, who is representing the plaintiffs in the antitrust case. “They can’t do anything,” the attorney said. “Basically it’s a preliminary injunction.” The airlines’ merger is still being reviewed by the US Justice Department’s antitrust division. <br/>