Lufthansa And Ita Airways will give up 11 slots at Linate airport to overcome European Union concerns regarding a possible dominant position of the group on certain routes. After this concession, the Commission should get closer to approving the union of the two airlines, sponsored by the Government which currently holds the majority of the Italian company.
For airport passengers Milan there should be no problems with reducing flights, but only a change of carrier. Lufthansa in fact it would already be in negotiations with EasyJet to allow the low-cost airline to take over the slots left by the German company and avoid creating monopoly situations as a result of the acquisition of Ita.
Lufthansa renounces Linate: agreement for ITA closer
Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti spoke after a meeting with the Vice President of the European Commission Margrethe Vestagherof the possible agreement on the acquisition of Ita by Lufthansa. The governing body of the European Union itself had expressed doubts about the dominant position that the new group would have assumed on some routes, including 22 flights departing and arriving from Linate airport.
Precisely for this reason, the German group has decided to give up 11 slots in the Milanese airport, to overcome the Commission’s doubts and conclude the agreement that has been talked about for several months, according to what the Corriere della Sera. This is one of the many sacrifices made by both parties to achieve the goal and complete the acquisition. Ita Airways has given up serving the Malpensa New York route and has abandoned the Franco-Dutch alliance SkyTeam to arrive at Star Alliancethe same as Lufthansa.
Regarding the outcome of the operation, the European Commission would be mainly concerned about an increase in prices due to the decrease in competition on some routes which are currently served mainly by Ita and Lufthansa and which would therefore end up in the hands of the same group. The German company is expected to acquire 41% of Ita Airways for a total amount close to 325 million euros, and then progressively increased his control over the company.
The consequences for travellers
Lufthansa’s farewell to the 11 slots at Linate does not mean that passengers at the Milan airport will remain without flights for the foreseeable future. In fact, there would already be a company ready to replace the outgoing German competitor: it would be EasyJet. The company’s CEO Johan Lundgren himself spoke to Corriere della Sera about the interest in the slots left free by the German group: “It’s no secret that we would like the slots that Ita and Lufthansa they will have to give way and we expect to receive several. We just hope that there will be a sufficient number to allow us to open the base in Linate: the airport fits perfectly with our plans”.
The opening of the base Easy Jet at Linate it would therefore cover the reduction in the service operated by Lufthansa in order to guarantee passengers a similar offer. However, a change in the nature of the offer itself is possible, given the differences between the two airlines. If the German group is in fact more traditional, Easy Jet is a so-called “low cost” company, which aims to lower the price of tickets for passengers as much as possible.
