According to Delta Airlines, it is expecting the unconditional approval from the European regulatory authorities for its purchase of 49% of Virgin Atlantic. The sale would allow Delta and Virgin to better compete with other airlines in the lucrative transatlantic travel market.

In its review, the European Commission, in its authority as Pan-European regulatory authority, says there is no competition problems. This was confirmed by three anonymous sources with intimate knowledge of the transaction last Monday.

The said deal was announced last December and it involves the creation of a joint venture where both airlines would be able to offer more flights in and out of the busiest airport in Europe, London's Heathrow airport.

One of the spokeswomen for the European Commission declined to make any comment on the matter. For its part, Virgin Atlantic did not provide an immediate response. For its part, the European Commission is scheduled to decide on the matter on or before June 20, 2013.