EU clears merger between Alitalia, Etihad airlines

The European Commission Friday night announced clearing, under the EU Merger Regulation, the proposed acquisition of joint control over New Alitalia of Italy by Alitalia Compagnia Aerea Italiana (Alitalia CAI) of Italy, and Etihad Airways of the United Arab Emirates.
New Alitalia will take over Alitalia CAI's aviation business, it said in a statement.
The decision is conditional upon Alitalia CAI and Etihad's commitment to, in particular, release slots to a new entrant at the airports of Rome Fiumicino and Belgrade, it noted.
Currently, Alitalia CAI and Air Serbia, which is jointly controlled by Etihad, are the only carriers offering direct flights on the Rome-Belgrade route.
The EU's executive body added that it had concerns that the monopoly created by the transaction on the Rome-Belgrade route could lead to higher prices and a loss of service quality for passengers.