Ryanair claims "conspiracy" afoot over Air Berlin assets
Irish budget carrierRyanairis protesting a proposedLufthansaacquisition ofAir Berlinassets, followingAir Berlin's filing for administration.
Ryanairis accusing the German government of a "conspiracy" to "carve up"Air Berlinand is submitting complaints to German competition regulator Bundeskartellamt as well as the European Commission.
The German government has agreed to guarantee a €150 million (USD 176 million) bridge loan toAir Berlinfrom bank KfW, after shareholderEtihad Airwaysceased to continue funding the struggling airline.
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Lufthansaand another, unnamed, airline are negotiating the acquisition ofAir Berlinassets, says the government, and a decision is likely to be finalised over the next few weeks.
ButRyanairclaimsAir Berlin's insolvency is being "manufactured" in order to enableLufthansato take over the airline without taking on debts.
"Bearing in mind the scale of the market shares and the European implications involved, it is all the more important that the European Commission takes immediate and decisive action," it adds.
