By 4 July 2024 the European Competition Commission will have to pronounce its final verdict on the agreement between the German national carrier Lufthansa and the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) for the privatization of ITA Airways. Just over 20 days left. The two betrothed are pressing Brussels and important developments are expected this week. 

The final obstacle to overcome remains the same: the question of long-haul flights. ITA and Lufthansa have proposed giving up 15-17 pairs of airport slots on routes to be sold to competing airlines: six flights from Milan-Linate (Frankfurt, Munich, Brussels, Hamburg, Dusseldorf and Vienna) and another five from Rome-Fiumicino (Frankfurt, Munich, Brussels, Zurich and Vienna). The decrease is equal to -10% of aircraft movements. Brussels has not yet responded, although the two partners asked for an opinion before the European elections.

Lufthansa also proposed to the competition commission to keep the Italian company out of its transatlantic joint venture with United Airlines and Air Canada, as requested by the antitrust authority. This weekend there were new contacts between Brussels and the German airline, which would have offered further sacrifices on flights between Rome-Fiumicino and the United States. Today ITA's accounts appear healthy and the Germans do not want to miss a golden opportunity. 

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