No waivers on long-haul routes between Europe and North America. It is what transpires from two recent statements by the managers of the German aviation group Lufthansa and the national carrier ITA Airways. In short, the two betrothed would not be willing to make sales to Brussels to obtain the coveted green light from the European Competition Commission, expected by 4 July 2024.

It was clarified by the CEO of Lufthansa, Carsten Spohr, who said he was optimistic about Brussels' approval of the project to purchase a stake in ITA (41% for 325 million euros). The manager, however, declared that he would not be willing to give up transatlantic flights to North America, as stated in an interview given in recent days to the Swiss newspaper "Neue Zuercher Zeitung".

The reason can be read between the lines of a statement by Emiliana Limosani, Chief Commercial Officer of ITA Airways: North America is the main international market at the moment and "represents over 50% of long-haul traffic, with an increase in the Summer 2024 of +23% of the capacity offered compared to summer 2023, specifically +40% in April, +53% in May and +32% in June. In terms of passengers, in 2023 more than 37% of those will come from the North America traveled via Rome to other destinations thanks to our domestic and international network".

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