EU: Lufthansa/Austrian Deal Can Be Cleared Before July 31
July 02 2009 - 8:08AM
Dow Jones News
Lufthansa AG (LHA.XE) should be able to win approval from
European Commission regulators by the end of July for its purchase
of Austrian Airlines (AUA.VI) if it submits an acceptable plan to
ease the commission's antitrust concerns in the next few days, a
commission spokesman said Thursday.
The commission late Wednesday said it would conduct an in-depth
investigation of the merger due to worries that, unchecked, the
deal could lead to higher fares and reduced choices for consumers
on certain routes.
"On condition that Lufthansa comes up with acceptable remedies
within the next few days it can have clearance before the end of
July," said Jonathan Todd, the commission's antitrust
spokesman.
-By Peppi Kiviniemi and Matthew Dalton, Dow Jones Newswires; +32
2 741 1487; matthew.dalton@dowjones.com