Lufthansa Vows With BA Not to Let Virgin Gripe Kill BMI Deal

Deutsche Lufthansa AG Chief Executive Officer Christoph Franz predicted the sale of its unprofitable BMI unit to International Consolidated Airlines Group SA will clear antitrust hurdles at the first attempt.

Franz said a European Commission examination of the deal is unlikely to trigger an extended probe, and that Lufthansa and the British Airways parent will work to answer any concerns the regulator might raise. IAG CEO Willie Walsh said he’s “not looking to walk away” and wants to address issues quickly.