Uncertainty about the timing and possible obstacles in Brussels. The path that should bring 41% of the national carrier ITA Airways into the hands of the Lufthansa aviation group is becoming steeper. After the agreement between the German management and the Italian Government, the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), Giancarlo Giorgetti, would like to meet the European Commissioner for Competition Didier Reynders, to clarify the situation.

"We expected the dossier to be complicated. Community officials are carefully watching the effects of the agreement on competition. We believe, we are confident, that the notification will be made at the end of this month, with a view to obtaining approval by the end of the year", writes the Italian newspaper "Il Sole 24 Ore", quoting the words of an authoritative source close to the Italian Government.

At the moment the documents of the ITA-Lufthansa agreement have not yet been notified to Brussels. The issues that could hinder the green light from the competition commission concern the sale of airport slots in Milan-Linate, Rome-Fiumicino, Frankfurt and Munich; the composition of the board of directors; the legal cases of former Alitalia employees requesting reinstatement. With all these issues to resolve, Lufthansa could postpone the purchase of 100% of the company until 2033, a situation that scares the Government.

On the topic, see also the article published by AVIONEWS.