Deutsche Lufthansa won conditional approval from the European Commission today to buy Swiss International Air Lines and end three years of independence for the money-losing Swiss carrier.
But the two airlines have had to agree to give up some take-off and landing rights in Zurich, Frankfurt, Munich, Duesseldorf, Berlin, Vienna, Stockholm and Copenhagen as a condition for approval, the European Union executive said.
"I welcome airlines consolidation in Europe, but it should not lead to higher prices or reduced choice of carrier," EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said in a statement - a day after Lufthansa said US cartel authorities approved the deal.
"The commitments given by Lufthansa ensure that competitors will be able to offer new services in competition with the merged company."
The slots that Lufthansa and Swiss have to surrender amount to 41 roundtrips per day for competing airlines. Lufthansa and Swiss combined operate 1,350 roundtrips a day.
Under the deal announced in March, Lufthansa is paying up to €265 million to the Swiss carrier's major shareholders - the Swiss government and big companies - and about €45 million to individual investors whose shares are in free float.
In all, the deal is worth up to €310 million.