German flag-carrier Lufthansa is seeking to extend by one month the deadline to complete its Austrian Airlines takeover, after indicating that it can achieve regulatory approval for the agreement given enough time.
Lufthansa had set a 31 July deadline for the acquisition but says it is formally applying to the Austrian Takeover Commission to prolong this to 31 August.
The German airline has been locked in discussions with the European Commission to obtain competition clearance, and approval for a financial package, for the deal.
Lufthansa says it has become "apparent" that a "resilient agreement" with the European Commission "can be reached" but that the formal approval "cannot be obtained in due time".
A spokesman for Lufthansa says there have been "intensive discussions" over the past few days but that "no final solution" has yet been found, although Lufthansa could be near to formalising a revised offer to the Commission made on 16 July.
Lufthansa has filed the deadline extension application in co-operation with Austrian state holding firm OIAG.
There has not yet been any communication from the European Commission on the matter.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
