UK budget carrier EasyJet plans to station eight aircraft in Italian hubs as part of the remedy measures for the Lufthansa-ITA Airways tie-up.
Lufthansa Group’s plan to take a shareholding in ITA has been cleared by European Commission regulators after remedial proposals were accepted.
EasyJet has been confirmed – along with IAG and Air France-KLM – as a remedy-taker for short-haul slots at Rome Fiumicino as well as Milan Linate.
It will base five aircraft at Linate from spring next year, and another three at Fiumicino.
EasyJet says it will be able to offer a “wider choice in destinations” for passengers at both airports.
The expansion broadens the airline’s presence in Italy to a total of 38 based aircraft across four airports, including Milan Malpensa and Naples.
Malpensa will remain its largest base in both Italy and continental Europe.
The short-haul remedial measures approved by the Commission focused on routes to certain airports in Central Europe from Rome or Milan.
They included access ITA’s domestic network to allow a competing carrier to offer indirect services to Central Europe from other Italian cities.
EasyJet chief executive-designate Kenton Jarvis says the measures “will ensure the Italian market remains competitive”.
