Brussels, 16/04/2012 (Agence Europe) - British airline Virgin Atlantic announced on Sunday 15 April that it will be appealing against the European Commission's decision to allow struggling British airline British Midland Limited (BMI) to be bought up by International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG), which owns British Airways and Iberia (see EUROPE 10587). Virgin says the decision will severely damage competition at Heathrow Airport in London, putting British Airways in a position where it would totally dominate the market in the world's busiest airport. By buying up BMI from Lufthansa for £172.5 million (around €200 million), IAG hopes to expand BA's business at Heathrow, where BMI has precious slots. Fearing that high market shares would bar new entrants, the Commission authorised the deal when IAG agreed to sell 14 of its Heathrow slots for each day of the week and to make it easier for transit passengers to take long-distance flights from Heathrow with competing airlines. (FG/transl.fl)