Trade unions push Brussels to approve Lufthansa’s €325m ITA buy

EU antitrust officials are worried the takeover of the former Alitalia fleet could raise prices and cut choice on flights to central Europe and the US. Airline staff representatives today (28 May) called for Brussels to act rapidly to allow Lufthansa’s €325m purchase of Italy's state-owned ITA Airways stock. The letter seen by Euronews adds to pressure on Margrethe Vestager, the European Commission’s lead antitrust official, as time runs out for her to take a view on the deal. “A quick and positive decision" on the merger can “signal that you, the EU Commission, are focusing on strength, competitiveness in a fair market environment and growth in Europe,” said the letter, dated 28 May and signed by 11 aviation unions including Germany’s ver.di and Italy’s ANPAC. “The aim must be to strengthen our European aviation industry, its value creation, its jobs with European standards and to keep its tax revenues in Europe,” added the letter, sent to Vestager and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The letter also cites the existing burden of EU environmental laws, Russian sanctions, and asymmetric market access on the sector. The case is causing a political storm in Italy, and transport minister Matteo Salvini has said Brussels blocking the deal would be tantamount to a “hostile act”. Italy’s economics and finance ministry is sole shareholder in ITA, which took over from Alitalia, the debt-stricken 70-year-old flag carrier which saw its final flight in 2021.<br/>