Competitive Advantage in European Aviation-Or Whatever Happened to BCal?

<p>The last year has seen a spate of business activity-take-overs, mergers, minority share swaps and marketing arrangements-which is starting to change the shape of the European airline industry. Particularly notable is the recent proposed investment in Sabena by British Airways and KLM, and the take-over by Air France of its largest French competitor, UTA. The precursor to all this activity is the prospects of further liberalisation of scheduled air services as the EC moves toward completion of the Internal Market. And underlying it is a perception, or at least a concern, that in a competitive European aviation market it is the larger airlines which are most likely to survive and prosper.</p>