The arrival of the notification regarding the critical issues that the ITA-Lufthansa marriage could generate on the national, international and intercontinental markets arrived in these hours in Rome and Berlin. It was sent by technicians from the European Competition Commission, led by Marghrethe Vestager. This is a decisive step for the privatization of the national airline.

"We said: 'Let's try to build a European champion that can compete with the international giants'. For ten months we have been fighting with Europe which does not allow us to do this", declared Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti yesterday, speaking at the Identity and Democracy party convention held in Rome.

The green light from Brussels for the entry of the German flag carrier into the capital of the ITA airline will depend on how the German Lufthansa Group and the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), 100% shareholder of the airline, respond to the demand for remedies that Europe asks for, before being able to authorize the operation: transfer of routes, flight frequencies, airport slots, commercial relationships between the two betrothed and other airlines.

In the letter of observations (Statement of Objections) Brussels will clarify the list of problems that have emerged so far during the discussions held with the parties, ITA and Lufthansa, without it having been possible to find a solution that everyone can agree on. According to rumors in the press, all of which agree, the Competition Commission could approve the privatization of ITA as long as there is a waiver of 30% of the slots at Fiumicino and Linate.

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