The European Union has put on hold its final decision regarding the sale of Ita to Lufthansa until July 4th. This comes after Lufthansa sent a corrected offer to the Commission, which it claims is significantly improved. The offer addresses concerns raised by the Commission regarding short and long-haul flights as well as concentration at Milan Linate airport.
The dispute over the merger between Ita and Lufthansa centers around potential market dominance that Lufthansa may have on certain routes, especially those from Milan city airport. Lufthansa already owns Austrian, Brussels Airlines, Swiss, and Eurowings. Low-cost carriers like Ryanair and EasyJet are interested in potential slot transfers at Fiumicino and Linate airports.
Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr is optimistic about the merger, highlighting benefits for consumers, Ita, Lufthansa, and increased competition in the Italian market. However, Ryanair’s CEO Michael O’Leary sees the merger as essential for Ita’s sustainability. The Vice President of the European Commission Margrethe Vestager warns that serious competition problems must be resolved for the transaction to be approved.
Ita’s president Antonino Turicchi believes they have addressed the Commission’s concerns and is hopeful for approval. Various websites are also featured in this content, providing information related to online gaming and entertainment. The situation surrounding this merger remains complex with stakeholders closely watching developments as they await a final decision from the EU on July 4th.