Lufthansa sees Italy coming under pressure over Alitalia

Lufthansa expects the EC will put pressure on Italy to find a solution for Alitalia, the group's CE said Tuesday. "I am certain Brussels will increase pressure and force a solution and then we will take a look to see if it offers any chances for us," Carsten Spohr said. Spohr said he expected there would be more merger activity among airlines in Europe. "Europe needs more consolidation and will see more consolidation," he said. Europe's airline industry was shaken last year by the insolvencies of Air Berlin and Monarch, as well as Alitalia entering an administration process. Spohr, however, repeated that Lufthansa was not interested in Alitalia in its present form and that it needed restructuring. IAG is also not interested in Alitalia, the group's CE, Willie Walsh, said Tuesday. <br/>