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«The only way out for the future» of Ita «is as a branch of Lufthansa, otherwise it will go bankrupt and disappear». Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary said this, speaking to a small group of international newspapers, including Ansa, in Brussels. «Lufthansa will use» the operation with the newco born from the ashes of Alitalia «only to get Italian passengers to the Munich and Frankfurt hubs, so it won’t do much either for tourism or for Italian consumers», reiterated the administrator delegate of the Irish low cost company. On the contrary, he added, “Ryanair continues to grow strongly in Italy” and is ready to guarantee “ever more competition”.
Competition hub for Ita-Lufthansa, cede slots
The CEO of Ryanair also explained that «The solution» for a fair green light from the European Commission to the marriage between ITA and Lufthansa is «simple: there should be a transfer» of slots «to Easyjet at Milan-Linate» and «Ryanair in Rome -Fiumicino. Only in this way will we have real competition.” The share of slots to be sold by the two companies, reiterated the CEO of the Irish low cost company, should be “30%” in both airports.
«Ita-Lufthansa slot at Condor? We will sue the EU”
«Condor is just an arm of Lufthansa» and if the Ita-Lufthansa slots are sold to the German charter company as part of Frankfurt’s commitments to obtain the green light for the marriage with the Italian newco, Ryanair is ready to appeal to the Court of European justice. The CEO of Ryanair then added. “This is the way the Germans think of competing,” attacked the Irish manager, adding that “Lufthansa is a large monopoly supported by the government” of Berlin. “We think that the merger” between Lufthansa and ITA “must be approved” by the EU, but with “serious remedies for competition”, highlighted O’Leary, underlining that the solution must be “credible”.