EU Merger Control in Aviation: The Lufthansa/Ita Case and the EU’s Balancing Act in Antitrust Enforcement

This paper examines the European Commission’s antitrust review of Deutsche Lufthansa AG’s acquisition of a minority stake in Italia Trasporto Aereo S.p.A. (“ITA”), highlighting its broader significance under EU merger control rules. It outlines the Commission’s procedural steps –beginning with the notification of the transaction, moving through the in-depth investigation, and culminating in a conditional clearance decision. The analysis centers on the competition concerns that arise