Brussels has approved EasyJet’s acquisition of parts of Air Berlin. In October, the low-cost airline agreed to buy the insolvent airline’s passenger transport operations at Berlin Tegel airport, including landing slots.
EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said, “Our job is to make sure that airline takeovers do not result in less competition – that would mean higher flight fares and less choice for consumers. EasyJet’s plans to buy certain Air Berlin assets will not reduce competition and we have approved it today. Our decision enables easyJet to grow its presence at Berlin airports and start competing on new routes to the benefit of consumers.”
EasyJet recently announced it will offer 250 more flights per week from Berlin-Tegel airport to Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich and Stuttgart in early January.
Lufthansa agreed to buy the other half of Air Berlin’s assets. Europe’s antitrust authority does have significant antitrust concerns that Germany’s largest airline buying half the operations of its nearest rival could harm competition leading to higher prices and less choice for consumers.
Full Content: Reuters
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