Lufthansa, easyJet win EU court backing to buy Air Berlin assets (updated)

Air Berlin

20/10/2021 10:36

(Adds details)
    By Foo Yun Chee
    BRUSSELS, Oct 20 (Reuters) - German airline Lufthansa
 LHAG.DE  and British peer easyJet  EZJ.L  on Wednesday gained
backing from Europe's second top court for their acquisitions of
insolvent German carrier Air Berlin's assets four years ago.
    Lufthansa received the EU green light from the European
Commission in 2017 to buy Air Berlin's subsidiary LGW in return
for giving up some slots at Duesseldorf airport. 
    In another deal, EasyJet secured unconditional clearance
from the EU competition enforcer for the 40 million euros 
($46.5 million) deal in 2017, which included some of Air
Berlin's operations at Tegel airport, leases for up to 25 A320
aircraft and about 1,000 of Air Berlin's pilots and cabin crew. 
    Polish rival LOT subsequently challenged the EU executive's
decisions at the Luxembourg-based General Court.
    "The General Court dismisses the actions of Polskie Linie
Lotnicze 'LOT' against the Commission decisions authorising the
mergers concerning the acquisition by easyJet and Lufthansa,
respectively, of certain assets of the Air Berlin group," judges
said.
    LOT can appeal to the EU Court of Justice (CJEU) on points
of law. The cases are T-240/18 Polskie Linie Lotnicze "LOT" v
Commission and T-246/18 Polskie Linie Lotnicze "LOT" v
Commission.


($1 = 0.8604 euros)

 (Reporting by Foo Yun Chee, Editing by Louise Heavens)
 ((foo.yunchee@thomsonreuters.com; +32 2 287 6844; Reuters
Messaging: foo.yunchee.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))