The European Court of Justice has overturned the 1999 decision
to block the proposed merger between Airtours and First Choice.
The Court of First Instance, which rules on appeals, said the
European Commission had not proved the merger would have an adverse effect on
competition and annulled the decision.
The move paves the way for MyTravel, formally Airtours, to
look again at First Choice, and for the likes of Preussag and Thomas Cook to
weigh up major acquisitions.
Airtours won its case after appealing against the EC ruling.
Interested parties have two months to lodge an appeal against the latest
decision.