INQUIRY OPENED INTO ALITALIA'S ACQUISITION OF VOLARE
PRESS RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE
ANTITRUST AUTHORITY OPENS INQUIRY INTO ALITALIA'S ACQUISITION OF VOLARE
The Italian Competition Authority, at its meeting on 24 May 2006, decided to open an inquiry into the purchase of Volare by Alitalia.
In the Authority's view, the takeover could lead to the creation or strengthening of a dominant position in a number of passenger airline markets.
Particular attention will be paid to the impact on six national routes (from Linate to Bari, Brindisi, Lamezia, Catania, Naples and Palermo) and the Linate-Paris route which both companies fly: the takeover of a competitor would therefore mean the creation or strengthening of Alitalia's dominant position.
The Authority deems it necessary in any case to examine the impact of the merger on those routes, also out of Linate, where there is no overlap between the parties, but where the reallocation of slots, given the prevalence of business travellers, could lead to the creation or strengthening of Alitalia's dominant position.
The inquiry must be concluded by 10 July 2006.
Rome, 25 May 2006