Remedies presented for ITA-Lufthansa operation

(ANSA) - ROME, MAY 7 - The Italian economy ministry said Tuesday that it and Lufthansa have submitted the remedies requested by the European Commission for the green light for the German carrier's acquisition of a 41% stake in Italy's ITA Airways.
    The EU executive has identified competition problems linked to the operation.
    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.
    The EU will "carefully assess" the new commitments "aimed at resolving the preliminary competition problems" in the merger, a Commission spokeswoman said Tuesday.
    The Commission said its deadline for a decision on the operation has been put back from June 15 to July 4. "We expect a positive decision on ITA from the European Commission in the summer" Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr told the carrier's the annual shareholders' meeting.
    "Everyone will benefit from this merger: consumers will have more choice and more connections, ITA will be able to become profitable as a member of our group, there will be more competition in the Italian market and Lufthansa will have better access to the Italian market, which is very important for us". The Italian Treasury owns ITA, the company that replaced the loss-making former flag-carrier Alitalia in 2021. (ANSA).