Out-Law News

Singapore Airlines gains competition clearance for Lufthansa merger


The Competition Commission of Singapore (CCS) has given approval for the merger of Singapore Airlines (SIA) and the Lufthansa Group.

The airlines have agreed to maintain and subsequently increase passenger seat capacity on the Singapore to Frankfurt and Singapore to Zurich routes, and to carry a minimum number of Singapore passengers on these routes, the CCS said.

The CCS had been concerned that SIA and Lufthansa were the only two carriers operating on these routes and that their combined market share exceeds 80%. However, the commitments they have made address the competition concerns, it said.

SIA chief executive Goh Choon Phong said: "We welcome the approval from the CCS and look forward to working with Lufthansa Group to bring more benefits to customers through harmonisation of our respective networks. The joint venture with Lufthansa Group will provide an attractive proposition to travellers, with unparalleled network connectivity between Europe and the Asia-Pacific."

In addition to SIA and Lufthansa, the agreement includes SIA subsidiary SilkAir, and Lufthansa subsidiaries SWISS and Austrian Airlines.

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