EU gives approval for Air France/KLM merger

European Union antitrust investigators gave their conditional approval to the merger between Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines today, creating one of the world’s largest airlines.

EU regulators said the deal could go ahead provided the two carriers give up 94 landing slots per day, mostly on the Amsterdam to Paris route which they dominate.

EU Competition Commissioner Mario Monti said concessions made by the two airlines “will provide air passengers with a greater choice of destinations and services without having to pay a higher price on those routes where their presence is the strongest.”

Getting its wings from the EU’s head office means the merger has passed its first regulatory hurdle before it can take flight.

The deal still needs approval American antitrust regulators.