The Court of Appeal has refused the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) permission to appeal in the case of cross-Channel ferry service MyFerryLink.
The Appeal Court also confirmed on Friday that it had quashed a CMA order banning MyFerryLink from operating out of Dover.
MyFerryLink won an appeal against a CMA ruling banning it from operating between Dover and Calais in mid-May, in the latest instalment of a lengthy legal battle.
That appeal was brought by the workers’ collective SCOP which operates the cross-Channel service on behalf of Eurotunnel.
MyFerryLink was set up by Eurotunnel following its acquisition of three ferries from failed ferry firm SeaFrance in 2012.
The UK competition body only announced it would appeal the latest judgment last week, and it could still appeal direct to the Supreme Court.
The CMA had requested the Court of Appeal suspend its ban on Eurotunnel running the MyFerryLink service out of Dover, saying it was “concerned to protect the interests of passengers and freight customers”.
MyFerryLink welcomed the latest decision, saying it “categorically quashes the report of the CMA and the order the CMA had made attempting to prevent the business operating out of the Port of Dover.
“This is very welcome news for our customers and our staff.”
A spokesman for the company added: “Given the Court of Appeal has also refused permission to appeal, we call on the CMA now to accept the judgment and cease the uncertainty that has hung over the Channel for the past three years.”
“In stark contrast to all of the CMA’s predictions, the market continues to grow strongly in 2015.”