BA takeover of bmi set to be approved

A last-ditch personal appeal to Joaquín Almunia, the EU competition commissioner, from Virgin Atlantic's Sir Richard Branson looks unlikely to stop British Airways' takeover of bmi being approved. Reports suggest the £172.5m acquisition from Lufthansa by IAG, BA's parent company, will be given the go-ahead without further EU inquiry. Branson, whose airline's own bid for bmi was trumped by IAG, said the deal would "seriously damage consumer choice". BA has agreed to relinquish 14 prized landing slots to allay competition concerns, as it will occupy more than 50% of them at Heathrow airport, a remedy Branson said was "woefully inadequate".