Brussels, 24/11/2004 (Agence Europe) - The Commission has decided to ask the Spanish competition authorities to look into plans to create a joint company between Shell España and Cepsa. The new entity, SIS, would provide aircraft with jet fuel during stop-overs in airports in Spain and the Balearics. This service consists of using a series of specific equipment to bring the fuel to the aircraft. Shell and Cepsa are oil companies and provide aircraft fuel, an activity which is vertically linked to that of loading services. Shell also provides this kind of service in Madrid and Barcelona airports. The Commission's preliminary examinations showed that the risks for competition on the loading services market and on the fuel supply market downstream, were limited to Spain. This means that the Spanish authorities are in the best position to analyse the effects of the plans on competition. More specifically, the Commission is concerned at the possibility that the number of potential credible tenderers on the loading services market may fall. It feels that SIS could replace its two parents in tender procedures for the granting of concessions in Spanish airports. Although Cepsa is not currently present on this market, the company has the potential to do so, states the Commission. Lastly, the vertical effects of the operation must also be taken in to account, because it could reinforce Shell and Cepsa's positions on the aircraft fuel supply market, especially in Malaga and Seville.