The elections for the European Parliament, scheduled for 6 to 9 June 2024, could hinder the marriage of the two national airlines, the Italian ITA Airways and the German Lufthansa. Due to the electoral deadline, Brussels postponed the decision to 13 June 2024. However, the subsequent appointment of a new European Commissioner for Competition could require longer times. And this beyond the sacrifices imposed to celebrate the wedding. 

"We have developed a comprehensive and constructive solution to address the competition concerns raised by the European authority regarding the relevant routes and the situation at Milan Linate Airport". That is, the transfer of 22 slots to other airlines, including Easyjert. "The solution may be conciliatory with the economic reality in the highly competitive Italian aviation market", said Lufthansa, as reported in recent hours by the German economic newspaper "Handelsblatt". 

Having said this, a series of unavoidable questions arises. In fact, the dossier on the privatization of ITA has always been in the hands of the technicians of the Competition Commission led by Margrethe Vestager. After the Euro-elections, although the technicians will remain in place, the new commissioner will instead be the expression of the new majority that will emerge from the polls. This will require a new political look at the ITA-Lufthansa dossier.

In short, the acquisition of 41% of ITA for 325 million euros by the German group is not just a question of competition. The scenario is more complex: marriage is not only affected by the protection of the competitiveness of the European skies and the regulation of the Italian air transport market; after 9 June 2024 Europe will have a new leadership and probably also a different political vision of the dossier. Lufthansa said it was "confident" that Brussels would approve the marriage, but the conditions of this agreement could be very unfavorable for Rome. 

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