Luxair challenges EU approval of Lufthansa-ITA merger
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on May 21, 2025
1 min readLast updated: January 23, 2026
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on May 21, 2025
1 min readLast updated: January 23, 2026
Luxair challenges the EU's approval of Lufthansa's merger with ITA, citing unfair slot allocations at Milan Linate airport.
BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Luxembourg flag carrier Luxair said on Wednesday it had filed a legal challenge before the General Court of the European Union against the European Commission's approval of the merger between Lufthansa and ITA.
Luxair said it has no objection to the merger itself but said that as part of the remedies offered by Lufthansa, smaller carriers like Luxair had been sidelined in the allocation of landing slots at Milan Linate airport.
In November, the European Commission approved a package of remedies proposed by Lufthansa for the acquisition of a minority stake in Italy's ITA Airways, in which EasyJet, IAG and Air France-KLM would secure more routes.
Lufthansa offered the remedies after winning EU antitrust approval in July 2024 to buy 41% of state-owned ITA, the successor airline to bankrupt Alitalia, for 325 million euros ($343.6 million), in a deal designed to boost its presence in the southern European market.
(Reporting by GV De Clercq; Editing by Makini Brice)
Luxair filed a legal challenge against the European Commission's approval of the Lufthansa-ITA merger.
Luxair stated it has no objection to the merger itself but raised concerns about being sidelined in landing slot allocations.
Lufthansa proposed a package of remedies to the European Commission for acquiring a minority stake in ITA Airways.
The European Commission approved the merger in November, following Lufthansa's antitrust approval in July 2024.
Lufthansa plans to buy a 41% stake in ITA Airways for 325 million euros, equivalent to approximately $343.6 million.
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