The Commission is requiring Lufthansa to restore access to its competitor Condor’s short-haul network, taking a decisive step in its ongoing investigation into a possible anti-competitive agreement between Lufthansa, United and Air Canada.
The move follows concerns that the transatlantic A++ joint venture (JV) agreement between the three carriers may restrict competition on transatlantic routes, in particular the Frankfurt-New York route.
The European Commission says that Lufthansa should reinstate the June 2024 agreements that provided Condor with transport services to and from Frankfurt, which expired in December, as without them, Condor may be forced to abandon the Frankfurt-New York route.
The Commission considers that by denying Condor access to its network, Lufthansa could force Condor out of the market or significantly weaken its competitive position.
The requirement from Lufthansa constitutes a temporary measure aimed at preserving the competitive landscape while the full investigation into the A++ agreement continues.
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