Unions representing Lufthansa and ITA
Airways employees on Wednesday sent a joint letter to European
Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager calling for the
German carrier's bid to buy a 41% stake in the Italian company
to be given the green light.
The EU executive has not yet given its blessing to the
325-million-euros operation as it is worried about its impact on
competition.
Under Brussels' lens are, in particular, 39 short-haul routes
connecting Italy with Central Europe, the US, Canada and Japan,
and the risk of a dominant position at Milan's Linate airport.
In the letter, the unions expressed "full support" for the
merger, in part as a way to combat unfair competition from
outside Europe, and appealed to Vestager to "listen to us".
It said a "quick, positive decision" on the operation would
"signal that you, the EU Commission, are focusing on strength,
competitiveness in a fair market environment and growth in
Europe
"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," it said.
The Italian Treasury owns ITA, the company that replaced the
loss-making former flag-carrier Alitalia in 2021.
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