Poland's LOT to wet-lease B737-300 from GetJet Airlines

Poland's LOT "cautiously optimistic" about bailout repayment

EC voices concerns about Korean Air - Asiana merger

Less than three months before a decision date deadline, the European Commission continues to hold concerns that the merger between Korean Air (KE, Seoul Incheon) and Asiana Airlines (OZ, Seoul Incheon) may have a significant competitive impact.

In a statement, the European Commission said that it has sent Korean Air a statement of their objections to the proposed merger. This follows the opening of an in-depth investigation in February. The European Commission is the EU's executive arm. Specifically, the commission has concerns on two fronts, including that the provision of passenger transport services may be reduced on four routes between South Korea and France, Germany, Italy, and Spain and that the provision of cargo transport services may be reduced between all of Europe and South Korea.

"Korean Air and Asiana compete head-to-head in carrying passengers and cargo between the EEA (European Economic Area) and South Korea. Together, they would be by far the largest carriers of passengers and cargo on these routes and the merger may remove an important alternative for customers," reads the...

Ljubljana set to decide on new Slovenian flag carrier

The Slovenian government will decide in June whether it should create a successor to Adria Airways (Ljubljana), with the aim that the new carrier would be operational by the end of next year to improve the country’s faltering connectivity, the local news site 24ur reported.

A final decision should be made in the coming weeks, when the Ministry of Infrastructure completes its analysis of a feasibility study on the economic effects of establishing a new airline. According to 24ur’s sources, this will reveal that the Slovenian economy, especially tourism, has suffered losses of about EUR150 million euros (USD163 million) since Adria’s collapse.

Departures from Ljubljana Airport, also known by its previous name Brnik, are less frequent, and connections with other European capitals have deteriorated. The participants of a recent large-scale medical congress were driven with cars and buses from other nearby airports because of their better connections, one of the sources said.

Demand is buoyant, but aviation experts cited in the news report, such as a former chief executive (1992-2001) and president (2001-2005)...

EU decision on Korean Air-Asiana merger coming in mid 3Q 23

The European Commission says that it will make a decision on the merger of Korean Air (KE, Seoul Incheon) and Asiana Airlines (OZ, Seoul Incheon) on or before August 3. This follows the commission previously pushing back the decision deadline from July after the merger case went into a second stage review.

The European Union, along with Japan and the United States, remain the last major jurisdictions not to have approved the merger, which will see the Asiana brand subsumed into Korean Air and the combined entity become one of the world's largest passenger carriers. In its preliminary investigation, the European Commission raised several potential concerns, including the potential for the merged entity to reduce or even eliminate passenger competition on routes between South Korea and EU member nations, and the potential to eliminate competition on cargo air routes between South Korea and EU member nations. The commission has also suggested that if the decision went against the South Korean carriers, it would likely have little impact on their current and future operations into Europe....