German carrier Lufthansa has filed a complaint with the European Commission against proposed state aid to struggling charter airline LTU, a Lufthansa spokeswoman said today.
Lufthansa has also asked Brussels to examine the conditions under which the municipal savings bank of Dusseldorf plans to take over a 49.9 per cent stake in LTU from the troubled Swissair group, the spokeswoman said.
Lufthansa was contesting about €122 million in loan guarantees provided to LTU by the regional government of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
LTU is headquartered in the regional state capital of Dusseldorf and its collapse could present serious problems for the city's airport - of which LTU is one of the biggest clients.
The loan guarantees are part of a temporary rescue package for LTU, which also includes the municipal savings bank taking temporary control of Swissair's 49.9 per cent stake in the charter airline.
AFP