Milan, Brussels, 02/11/2000 (Agence Europe) - Italian newspapers have published the European Commission's draft Decision on Malpensa Airport (Milan), prepared by the Directorate-General for Transport. A Commission spokesperson signalled that the Commission has not taken any decision and that no documents have been submitted to the Commission by its Vice-President, Loyola de Palacio¸ Commissioner for Transport. Consultations are currently underway between the various Directorate-Generals involved in this issue and their discussions may well continue for another few weeks. In fact, the Italian government has to be consulted, along with the twelve airlines that appealed against the way Italy managed the affair, and the governments that support the airlines' appeal (namely Austria, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway as a member of the EEA). Following which, the Aeronautical Advisory Committee will be asked to give its opinion.
That said, according to the Italian press, the Commission's 'Transport' department considers that Italy has not paid enough respect to proportionality by leaving companies the option of retaining routes attracting more than 2.8 million passengers a year at Linate airport (which is closer to Milan). This measure favours Alitalia which would be allowed to keep its Milan-Rome flights at Linate. The Commission's draft Decision is reported to require an increase in the number of flights using Linate airport, along with the construction of a third runway at Malpensa so that the new airport will be able to operate fully as a hub. If the Italian government agrees to amend the "Bersani Law" in this way (named after the former Transport Minister) a formal Commission Decision may not be necessary. Sources in Rome, however, suggest that the Italian government is unhappy with the Commission's proposals.