The IAG Group (International Airlines Group) and the Spanish company Air Europa are proceeding with the merger, but according to rumors they have temporarily suspended the merger procedure, apparently due to the burdensome sacrifices imposed by the European Competition Commission, led by Margrethe Vestager. For the same reason, the ITA-Lufthansa marriage could be cancelled. 

It must be reiterated that the privatization of the national carrier ITA Airways, whose capital is 100% in the hands of the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), led by Giancarlo Giorgetti, therefore at the expense of Italian taxpayers, must guarantee both the stability of the approximately 3600 workers (others being hired) is the future of Italian air transport, one of the most vital, high-performance and attractive markets in all of Europe. There can be no step backwards on these two objectives, nor the mistakes made for decades with Alitalia. 

What is happening with the lag-Air Europa marriage could however happen again with ITA-Lufthansa. Let's see what happens in Spain: while waiting for Brussels to express its opinion by 7 June 2024, the planning of Summer 2024 flights has been cancelled, having been designed taking the green light for the merger for granted. At that point some industry experts suggest that, in the event of Lufthansa's forfeit, a consortium with the US Delta Air Lines and the Italian-Swiss shipowner MSC should take over. Two companies that have already shown interest in the operation. 

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