Eutelsat will not raise concerns over Airbus, Thales, Leonardo satellite merger, CEO says

Eutelsat Communications SA

31/03/2026 11:55

PARIS, March 31 (Reuters) - European satellite operator Eutelsat ETL.PA will not be raising concerns about the planned satellite merger between Airbus AIR.PA, Italy's Leonardo LDOF.MI and France's Thales TCFP.PA, its CEO told Reuters.

The European Commission, which can block merger proposals, is likely to consider Eutelsat's views along with those of other customers as the deal will be subject to EU antitrust approval.

Airbus, Leonardo and Thales have agreed to combine their satellite businesses in a project called "Bromo"

Jean-François Fallacher, CEO of Eutelsat said: "We are working with them almost on a daily basis... and we understand what they want to do"

Smaller German satellite maker OHB OHBG.DE is opposing the deal

The European Space Agency, another large customer, has also warned against monopolies

Eutelsat has recently ordered 440 satellites from Airbus

"They want to bring their forces together to bring together a more powerful European actor," Fallacher said

(Reporting by Gianluca Lo Nostro; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)

((gianluca.lonostro@thomsonreuters.com;))