During the "Wings of Change Europe" event in Rome (20-21 November 2024), the Director General of IATA (International Air Transport Association), Willie Walsh, expressed his disappointment at the delay of the European Commission in giving the green light to the union between ITA and Lufthansa. In favour of the consolidation of the airline sector in Europe, he underlined how such delays are an obstacle to the competitiveness of European airlines at a global level.

The DG compared the European situation with that of the United States, where looser regulation is seen as an advantage. According to Walsh, excessive regulation in Europe needs to be overhauled, as also suggested by the Draghi report. He also mentioned that the integration of European companies into larger groups could not only increase their capacity, but also bring significant benefits to consumers.