The European Union's
Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said Wednesday that he
is waiting for formal notice of the deal between troubled
Italian airline Alitalia and Etihad Airways before judging
whether it meets competition rules.
Until then, said Almunia, he won't offer an opinion on the
pact which the parties finalized last month and will see Abu
Dhabi-based Etihad invest an estimated 560 million euros in
struggling Alitalia.
The deal still requires requlatory approvals.
The deal is expected to keep the Italian carrier alive
while providing State-owned Etihad with greater access to
lucrative routes in Europe.
But critics, including competing airlines, have complained
that the deal contravenes EU regulations concerning State aid.
Competing airlines including International Airlines Group
(IAG), which includes the airlines Iberia and British Airways,
threatened legal action last October after a separate bailout
package for Alitalia which the carriers said constituted State
assistance.
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