Brussels, 06/03/2002 (Agence Europe) - The Commission has given its approval to the acquisition by Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS), the eighth largest passenger air carrier in Europe, of a majority stake in Spanair. The second largest Spanish airline, Spanair provides regular passenger services to several destinations, mostly in Spain and the Canary Islands but also elsewhere in Europe and Central America. It also has charter flights mainly between Finland and Spain. The operation notified provides for the takeover of Spanair by SAS with 74% of the capital as opposed to the earlier 49% via the acquisition of part of the Teinver shares, held up to 51% by the Spanish company. The Commission investigation showed that the only route operated though direct flights by both SAS and Spanair is Madrid-Copenhagen. There are, however, other credible competitors on this route and SAS's control of Spanair does not, therefore, present a competition problem.