EasyJet talking to European Commission about taking over slots at Linate airport, CEO says

EasyJet is in talks with the European Commission about taking over slots at Milan's Linate airport that could be available as a result of Lufthansa teaming up with ITA Airways, the budget airline's CE said Wednesday. The German carrier is seeking a 41% stake in the state-owned Italian rival for E325m as part of a capital increase and expects a statement of objections from the Commission setting out concerns this month. Europe's competition enforcer warned earlier this year that the concessions initially offered by Lufthansa, which had said it was prepared to offer targeted remedies, were insufficient in scope and effectiveness to address competition concerns. "I've made no secret of the fact that we would love to increase our presence at Linate," EasyJet's CE Johan Lundgren told Reuters on the sidelines of a conference in Brussels. "And we think that would make absolute sense, so that is something that we are discussing with the Commission." Lufthansa is also in talks with EasyJet on remedies, a person with direct knowledge of the matter said. ITA Airways, the EC and Lufthansa declined to comment. The Commission had said affected short-haul routes would be those connecting Italy with countries in Central Europe while long-haul routes between Italy and the United States, Canada, Japan and India could also be affected.<br/>