The European Commission wants to see clearly about the acquisition of the Spanish airline Air Europa by another company from the same country, Iberia. In fact, in the last few hours, the investigation into the operation has been made official to understand whether or not it has reduced competition on the Spanish national air routes and the international ones that begin and end in the Iberian Nation. As the competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager pointed out, the aim is to assess the possible negative influence of the agreement on short and long-haul air links, again with Spain as a background. Brussels, in particular, fears higher prices and lower quality for passengers. The Commission itself could have already approved the acquisition, preferring however the path of thorough investigations to dispel any doubts. The notification of the agreement arrived in Brussels on May 25 and the Community body will have time for a final decision until 5 November. However, it was specified that the opening of the formal investigation does not in any way prejudice the final outcome of the operation. Specifically, the overall fleet of the two airlines amounts to about 140 planes, even if for the future this number could rise to 160 or even 170. The priority in the short term must however always remain the same, namely the maintenance of independence of both airlines, at least until air traffic and passenger demand have recovered to satisfactory levels. Finally, as regards relations with the Madrid government, they are much more relaxed and reassuring.

On the same topic, read also the article published by AVIONEWS.