Expect EU green light to Lufthansa-Ita in summer - Spohr

But we have red lines warns German carrier's CEO

By: ansa.it

Apr 30 2024
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Expect EU green light to Lufth

Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr said Tuesday that "we expect the green light in the summer" from the European Commission to the German carrier's acquisition of a a 41% stake in Italy's ITA Airways.
    Giving an online news conference to present the company's first-quarter results, Spohr said "I'm optimistic that there is a solution" while warning that "there are red lines we won't cross".
    Earlier this month Lufthansa and Ita submitted new commitments to the European Commission in order to get the go-ahead for their merger after the EU executed identified competition problems linked to the operation.
    Under Brussels' lens were, in particular, several short-haul routes connecting Italy with Central Europe, some intercontinental routes between Italy and the US, Canada and Japan, and Ita's dominant position on the Milan-Linate route.
    The Italian Treasury owns ITA, the company that replaced the loss-making former flag-carrier Alitalia in 2021.