Brussels Plans to Revise Rules on Airline Ownership

The European Union is preparing a revision of the rules on airline ownership, intended to prevent foreign investors from gaining de facto control over carriers operating in the EU.

According to a European Union official, the goal is to preserve strategic autonomy and ensure that decision-making remains in the hands of European entities.

The measure comes at a time when US investment groups Apollo Global Management and Castlelake are competing for the British low-cost carrier easyJet.

Both bids must comply with EU rules, which require that European investors hold a majority stake and maintain control over the airline. Following the announcement of the planned revision, easyJet's stock price fell sharply.

Analysts note that the new rules could complicate or delay the takeover of the company and could also affect the ownership models of other airlines that use similar structures to meet European regulatory requirements.

(Reuters, mja)