European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said Thursday that the EU executive's approval of Lufthansa's acquisition of a 41% stake in Italy's ITA Airways was dependent on how the companies aim to resolve problems the move creates regarding routes.
"We have to wait a little longer," said Vestager told RaiNews24on the sidelines of the G7 Industry meeting in Verona when asked about when the Commission would make a decision on the deal.
"It depends on how the companies respond.
"A very detailed examination has been done to see if there are any overlaps on routes.
"If the both fly the same routes, one would have to close theirs, and so prices would increase.
"We are waiting to find a solution to this problem, both fromITA and Lufthansa, so that this merger can take place."In January the European Commission launched an in-depth investigation into the proposed deal between Lufthansa and ITAAirways, taking to phase two the antitrust examination of the transaction that began in late November after the Italian Treasury, currently the sole owner of the company that replaced the loss-making former flag-carrier Alitalia in 2021, and the German carrier formally notified Brussels of the plans.
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