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International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG), a British-Spanish airline group, was formed in 2011 through the merger of Iberia and British Airways. Since then, IAG has expanded significantly, becoming a major player in the global aviation industry.
The group's growth is attributed to several mergers and acquisitions. Notably, IAG acquired Aer Lingus in 2015 for 1.36 billion euros after overcoming regulatory challenges. Margrethe Vestager, European Commissioner for competition policy, remarked: "By obtaining significant concessions from the airlines the Commission has ensured that air passengers will continue to have a choice of airlines at competitive prices after IAG's takeover of Aer Lingus."
Despite its successes, IAG faced setbacks such as the failed acquisition of Air Europa due to European Commission concerns over reduced competition. Although negotiations continued until 2023 with an agreed purchase price of 400 million euros, IAG abandoned the merger in August 2024 citing excessive demands from the EU.
