The European Commission has decided to launch an in-depth investigation into the Ita-Lufthansa operation, bringing the dossier to phase two of the antitrust examination.
The EU executive itself announced this ahead of the scheduled deadline of 29 January.
The first phase of the investigation was started on November 30th, after the notification of the operation by the Treasury and the German carrier.
In light of the data collected, Brussels believes that "the operation could reduce competition" on "several short- and long-haul routes".
The Commission now has 90 working days, until 6 June 2024, to make a final decision.
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