Air Canada’s Bid for Transat Gets Extended EU Merger Probe

Air Transat aircraft sit on the tarmac at Pearson airport in Toronto on April 8.

Photographer: Cole Burston/Bloomberg
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Air Canada’s bid for tour operator Transat A.T. Inc. faces an extended probe from European Union regulators who said the deal may hamper competition by combining the two biggest airlines linking Europe and Canada.

The European Commission set a Sept. 30 deadline to rule on the deal, citing concerns that the “transaction could significantly reduce competition on 33” routes, according to an emailed statement on Monday.