Anger over Italian airline intervention

The European Low Fares Airlines Association, which counts Ryanair as a key member, has written to the European Commission to complain about the Italian government’s rescue of the national carrier Alitalia.

Italian authorities said they have asked around 40 competitors of ailing national carrier Alitalia not to undercut some of the State-owned airline’s long-haul fares.

“We request confirmation from the Commission that the Italian government will immediately be prevented from suspending competition in the Italian market,” ELFAA wrote in the letter.

“These recent developments are extremely disturbing and appear to indicate the Commission has one policy for national airlines and another one for those airlines that are genuinely bringing competition to the market.”