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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Europeans Object To Boeing Merger

From Staff And Wire Reports

The European Commission will send a letter to U.S. aircraft makers Boeing Co. and McDonnell Douglas Corp. this month listing antitrust objections to their planned merger.

EU competition chief Karel Van Miert said Monday the letter will likely detail changes the companies will have to make in order for their $13 billion merger to win regulatory approval.

EU officials declined to comment on what kind of changes will be requested.

The European Commission, the EU’s executive agency, has the authority to review the deal because both Boeing and McDonnell have extensive sales in Europe. U.S. regulators are also probing the merger.

Meanwhile, Van Miert again lashed out at exclusive supplier agreements Boeing has signed with commercial airlines.

Boeing recently concluded exclusive accords with American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, essentially locking European rival Airbus Industrie out of future orders with those carriers for decades. Continental Airlines has said it also may seek such an agreement.