Regulators from
the European Union are poised
to approve the takeover bid by German national carrier Lufthansa of Italian
airline ITA.
ITA is the airline
that formed in the wake of the dissolution if Alitalia.
The United States
Department of Justice went to court to block a potential merger between Jetblue
Airways and Spirit Airlines. A federal judge ruled in the DOJ’s favor.
Lufthansa had to
provide new documentation to European Union regulators over concerns about monopolization
but did so. It apparently culminates three years of work by the German flag
bearer to get a piece of ITA.
Regulators were
initially concerned with how Lufthansa’s looming presence would affect antitrust
laws, especially on short-haul flights in Europe, among other issues. Lufthansa
has indicated that it will not amend its latest documentation and could simply
walk away from owning a stake in the airline if regulators do not approve.
This is not
the first time that another entity has had an interest in ITA.
In
addition to the Lufthansa and ITA Airways merger, the European Commission is
also probing the proposed takeover of Air Europa by the IAG, which owns British
Airways.
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