Lufthansa CEO to meet with EU on Air Berlin deal: source

Lufthansa CE Carsten Spohr is meeting with EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager Wednesday to discuss anti-trust concerns over the German carrier’s acquisition of Air Berlin assets, a person familiar with the matter said. Lufthansa last month signed a E210m deal to take over Air Berlin businesses Niki and LG Walter, plus some short-haul planes, to cement its position in Germany and expand its Eurowings budget brand. The deal has come under fire from airlines and consumer groups who fear it will give Lufthansa dominance of German domestic routes and in Austria. The source said that the EC was leaning toward blocking the takeover of Niki. The talks between CEO Spohr and the EU’s Vestager come ahead of a Thursday deadline for Lufthansa to propose concessions to allay EC concerns over the deal. It is expected to have to offer significant remedies as more than 100 of its routes overlap with those of Air Berlin, and the merged company would have a near monopoly on some routes.<br/>