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EU: German airline wants foreign carrier merger thwarted

By  |  February 3, 2014

Germany’s largest airline Lufthansa is reportedly calling upon the European Commission to block a planned merger between United Arab Emirates’ Etihad Airways and Italian airline Alitalia, say reports.

The deal, which is reportedly nearing completion, will lead to hampered competition, the German airline claims. Etihad plans to boost its investment in multinational airlines with an acquisition of struggling Alitalia.

Etihad has already bought stakes in Air Berlin, Aer Lingus and Virgin Australia.

According to reports, Lufthansa has been a longtime proponent of state-owned Gulf-area airlines and their pursuit of EU investments. On Monday, the company released a statement, declaring that it rejects “recurrent subsidies and the partial renationalization of European airlines, whether by European states or by states or state-owned companies from outside the European Union.

Full Content: Reuters

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