On Friday 29 November the European Commission approved EasyJet Airline Company PLC, International Airlines Group and Air France-KLM S.A., Société Air France and Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V. as suitable remedy takers under the commitments given by Lufthansa AG and the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) to acquire joint control of ITA Airways.
The approval of suitable remedy takers is a condition for Lufthansa and the Italian Ministry to implement the operation.
In July 2024, the Commission authorised the acquisition of joint control of ITA by Lufthansa and MEF, subject to full compliance with a remedy package submitted by Lufthansa (see EUROPE 13445/14).
Lufthansa and the Ministry have notified the Commission of their choice: - EasyJet as a remedy taker for short-haul routes and for the transfer of take-off and landing slots to Milan Linate airport; - IAG and AFKLM as remedy takers for long-haul routes. Lufthansa and the MEF have also submitted proposals for related agreements with suitable remedy takers to the Commission for approval.
The Commission concluded that EasyJet, IAG and AFKLM were suitable remedy takers: - independence from Lufthansa, MEF and ITA; - incentives to act as viable and active competitive forces in competition with Lufthansa and ITA; - no prima facie competition problems or risk of delay in implementing the commitments. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)