The deadline for the decision of the European Competition Commission on the privatization of the national carrier ITA Airways has been postponed to 4 July 2024. A ITA share of 41% will be acquired by the German aviation group Lufthansa for 325 million euros. To obtain the green light from Brussels, on Monday 6 May the two betrothed sent an improved corrective offer compared to the previous one, which includes new sacrifices.

"The revised package addresses the Commission's concerns about short- and long-haul routes, as well as a concentration at Milan-Linate airport". "The deadline for the Commission's decision on the review has been automatically moved to July 4", said the German company in a statement.

These are the remedies proposed by ITA and Lufthansa to avoid creating dominant positions in the passenger transport market: the two airlines will cede 24 daily airport slots on Milan-Linate to the airlines easyJet (12 time slots) and Volotea (12). As regards the Rome-Fiumicino airport, 12-18 slots will be given to Volotea and perhaps Ryanair. Finally, on intercontinental connections to the United States and Canada, ITA and Lufthansa promise to continue to compete, as the Germans have a joint venture with United Airlines and Air Canada. At the moment it is not certain that this is enough to get the green light from Brussels for the wedding.

On the same issue see also the article published by AVIONEWS.