Face to face in Brussels to resolve the issues surrounding the privatization of the national carrier ITA Airways. The meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday 14 May 2024. The Minister of Economy and Finance (MEF), Giancarlo Giorgetti, and the Vice President of the European Commission, Margrethe Vestager, will be present at the summit. At the center of the discussion is the takeover offer by the Germans of the Lufthansa Group. 

To obtain the green light from the European Competition Commission on the sale of 41% of ITA to Lufthansa for 325 million euros, on Monday 6 May the two betrothed sent a corrective offer improved compared to the previous one, which includes new sacrifices. The objective was to respond to European antitrust concerns regarding the alleged formation of monopolies or positions of strength on the European air transport market. 

The new compromise proposals move along three axes: the transfer of airport slots at Milan-Linate to rival airlines (easyJet and others), opening to competitors of some routes connecting Italy with Central Europe; finally the freezing for two years of the alliance on transatlantic routes from Fiumicino to the United States and Canada (ITA and Lufthansa will compete). Brussels' decision is expected by 14 July. 

On the topic, see also the article published by AVIONEWS.