Jetstar Airways

Australia's antitrust regulator won't block Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd.'s (VAH.AU) 35 million Australian dollars (US$36 million) acquisition of a 60% stake in low-cost carrier Tiger Airways Australia, a move that will allow it to go head-to-head against rival Qantas Airways Ltd.'s (QAN.AU) no-frills Jetstar unit.In deciding not to oppose the deal, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, or ACCC, said that without a takeover Tiger--which hasn't made an operating profit in six years operating in the country--was "highly unlikely" to remain in the local market."The ACCC would always prefer to see a greater number of independent airlines competing in the domestic market," it said in a statement Tuesday. "However, our investigations showed that Tiger Australia had been unable to establish itself as a viable competitor despite substantial investment and numerous changes of management and strategy over the years."Virgin Australia is the second-largest domestic airline operator ...

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