Lufthansa’s Purchase of Brussels Airlines Gets EU Approval

The European Commission has granted regulatory approval for the tie-up of the two airlines. The decision paves the way for Lufthansa to acquire an initial 45 percent stake in SN Airholding SA/NV, the parent company of Brussels Airlines.

Clearance from the EU competition authority will also give Lufthansa an option, from 2011, to buy the remaining 55 percent stake in Brussels Airlines once it has secured the necessary traffic rights, thereby completing the takeover of the Belgian carrier.

The transaction is expected to be finalized by the end of this month. Regulatory clearance will enable both carriers to realize synergies, further strengthen their competitive position and intensify their cooperation -- to the benefit of their respective customers.

Harmonized schedules, which will lead to improved connections at the Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich and Brussels hubs, are just one of the advantages that customers can look forward to in future.