UK to probe competition concerns on CityJet-Aer Lingus wet lease

The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will probe Irish regional airline CityJet’s plans to place aircraft on long-term wet-lease with International Airlines Group (IAG) Irish carrier Aer Lingus. In late August, Dublin-based CityJet announced plans to relinquish operating Dublin-London City in its own right, instead flying six return weekday flights on behalf of Aer Lingus, with a reduced service at weekends.. The deal covers two of CityJet’s Avro RJ85 regional jets from Oct. 28. The aircraft will fly in Aer Lingus colors, with the IAG carrier’s service model on board. Dublin to London is Europe’s most heavily trafficked international air route. On Oct. 12, the CMA issued an initial enforcement order (IEO), saying it had “reasonable grounds” to suspect that the deal could blur the lines over assets of the two companies, meaning that they could cease to be “distinct.”<br/>