61.   The European Commission gave approval on Friday to acquisition of French airline Air Liberte by British Airways, a commission spokesman announced.

62.   The foothold gained by foreign airlines is seen as a significant step in deregulation of the French airline market.

63.   The merger is a major step in the restructuring of the French airline industry.

64.   The merger is a major step in the restructuring of the French airline industry in an attempt to keep it flying high when the European market opens to competition.