Approved the marriage between the airlines ITA Airways and Lufthansa. The green light has arrived in these hours with a decision put in black and white by the European Commission: approved "in accordance with the European regulation on mergers, the project for the acquisition of joint control of ITA Airways" by the Germans (41%) and the Italian Government (59%), in "respect for the corrective measures" proposed by the two entities to avoid disturbing competition in the European air transport market.

"It is a success for this Government and above all for this country. The positive solution occurs with an operator that comforts us regarding the possibility of developing air traffic to/from Italy, Rome will become the reference hub for America, Asia and Africa", said today the Italian Minister of Economy and Finance (MEF), Giancarlo Giorgetti, during a press conference in Rome with managers of ITA and Lufthansa.

It was echoed by the president of ITA, Antonino Turicchi: "Logic has prevailed over the various obstacles. This is an operation in favor of the market". Then the CEO of Lufthansa, Carsten Spohr, added: ITA is "welcome to the our Lufthansa family. The winners are our travellers, but also their respective countries and the European Union".

See for details AVIONEWS.