EU set to approve easyJet purchase of parts of Air Berlin, sources say

EasyJet is set to win unconditional EU antitrust approval to buy parts of failed Air Berlin, people familiar with the matter said Monday. EasyJet will take on some of Air Berlin's operations at Tegel airport in the German capital for around E40m. It will also take on leases for up to 25 A320 aircraft, and about 1,000 of Air Berlin's pilots and cabin crew. The move will allow easyJet to further bolster its position in Berlin, pulling far ahead of Ireland's Ryanair and Lufthansa Group in the German capital. The EC, which is scheduled to decide on the deal by Dec. 12, declined to comment. Air Berlin was the largest carrier in Berlin before its insolvency, followed by the combined Lufthansa Group airlines, Ryanair and easyJet. Lufthansa has traditionally not focused on Berlin, instead doing most of its flying out of hubs in Frankfurt and Munich. Lufthansa's budget unit Eurowings plans to expand rapidly should Lufthansa's plans to buy Air Berlin units Niki and LGW receive antitrust approval. Should the deals be approved, easyJet will become the largest carrier in Berlin with 16m seats, ahead of 10.7m for the Lufthansa Group (including Eurowings, plus the LGW and Niki seats) and Ryanair on 5.9m, according to easyJet.<br/>