The European Commission gives the OK to the package of remedies proposed by the Ministry of Economy and Lufthansa for the German group’s entry into Ita Airways. This is what the Courier from two community sources who underline that the decision has yet to be put in writing. Brussels is only waiting for the final document with the sacrifices made by those involved, but is satisfied with the preliminary version (“draft remedies”) sent in the last few days. The EU Antitrust, Lufthansa and ITA are not commenting at the moment. The decision on the operation, expected on July 4, could be brought forward.
The reactions
“I think we’ll get married, but anything can happen”, comments the Minister of Economy Giancarlo Giorgetti on the sidelines of an event in Cremona. “The bride and witnesses are summoned, but the Don Abbondio of the situation might not show up,” he jokes after months of tight negotiations and even some friction on the Rome-Brussels axis. «I believe that in recent days we have still worked very intensely, hard. Let’s say that the date is set, spouses and witnesses are summoned, but anything can happen.”
The negotiations
The remedies proposed by Mef and Lufthansa – the sources continue – are judged “good” because they respond to the concerns of the EU Antitrust on the three critical fronts that would arise after the merger: an excessive market share at Milan Linate airport, a situation of monopoly on several short-haul routes (between Italy and Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium) and the reduction of competition on connections between Italy and North America.
Linate and short flights
Given the excessive presence at Milan Linate airport, we are therefore moving towards the sale of at least 15-17 pairs of slots (equal to 30-34 daily flights, in both directions), more than the 11 pairs owned by the entire Lufthansa group. On short-haul flights – the sources explain – it will enter into competition on the routes where the Ita-Lufthansa union would lead to a monopoly at least one carrier which will have to be approved by the European Commission: all eyes are on easyJet. Not only. The same carrier will be able to open new connections.
