The EC and the US competition authorities have given the go ahead for Lufthansa to takeover Swiss International Air Lines.
The Commission's approval is conditional on the two carriers giving up slots at eight European airports, among them Frankfurt, Munich and Zurich. The American approval has been giving without conditions.
The EC said it found the take over would “eliminate or significantly reduce” competition on several routes, notably Zurich-Frankfurt and Zurich-Munich.
Lufthansa and Swiss have agreed to give up slots at Düsseldorf, Berlin, Vienna, Stockholm and Copenhagen as well as Frankfurt, Munich and Zurich.
This would allow competing airlines to run up to 41 round trips a day on the affected routes.
Neelie Kroes, EC commissioner for competition welcomed the “airline consolidation” and said the merger “should not lead to higher prices or reduced choice of carrier.”
Christoph Franz, president and ceo of Swiss said: “The green light from Brussels and Washington gives us the opportunity to ensure the long-term future of the air transport connections that are so crucial to Switzerland and its economy.”
Shake up at Radius
Radius, the global network of travel agencies, has re-structured its operations after a year of “rapid expansion” and the success of its business development operation.
This operation as well as international operation will now be co-ordinated under Keith Haynes
who takes the title of executive vp shareholder operations.
Also under the changes, Alan Slan becomes executive vp commercial operations and Patricia Locke is promoted to senior vp sales and supplier relations. Maria Udy, formerly publisher for UK magazine Business Travel World joins the company as vp global marketing and branding.
Tony Hughes, president and ceo of Radius, said the changes would make the consortium “more responsive and efficient.”