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EU: Lufthansa appeals Air Berlin decision

By  |  January 21, 2018

Lufthansa has appealed a European Commission decision that allowed the German carrier to temporarily take over Air Berlin plane leases under certain conditions while the antitrust watchdog reviewed Lufthansa’s bid to acquire two businesses from its bankrupt rival.

In December, the European Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager expressed “deep competition concerns” about Deutsche Lufthansa’s bid for Air Berlin. “There is a risk that… Lufthansa becomes de facto a monopoly on a significant number of routes,” Ms Vestager said at a press conference, according to Reuters.

The statement came after Lufthansa made concessions to its bid, offering to forego airport slots. The EU competition authority is now seeking feedback from rivals and interested parties.

Full Content: Stuttgarter Nachrichten

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