Air Europa has accepted Turkish Airlines' offer: after ITA Airways, Skyteam will lose another airline

Turkish Airlines announced. in these hours which his offer to join Air Europa With a minority stake (the 26%) for a sum of about 300 million euros Has been accepted by the Iberian carrier and that it expects to be able to complete the process of acquiring the shares over a period of six to 12 months.

Turkish's offer and the agreement between the two companies Will now go to European antitrust scrutiny. who, as he did In the case of Lufthansa's entry into ITA Airways. and in that of Air France/KLM-Scandinavian Airlines will assess the effects of the cartel on freedom of competition and thus on travelers, adopting 'corrections' if necessary.

Entering Air Europa, Turkish has openly stated that it aims to enhance its access to the Latin American market, where it now flies to eight destinations compared to the 20 or so that the Spanish carrier connects to its Madrid hub.

Previously, Air Europa had been the subject of the 'attentions' of two of Europe's largest air transport groups: the International Airline Group (IAG), which includes British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, Vueling and Level, and Air France/KLM, of which Scandinavian Airlines is now a member in addition to the French and Dutch carriers.

Both groups, after months of 'courtship' Had nevertheless given up the fight, Air France/KLM precisely as a result of its joining SAS. And a few days after they threw in the towel, Turkish Airlines had stepped in, whose offer was accepted by Air Europa in recent hours.

Turkish Airlines, which is already Europe's largest carrier by number of aircraft in its fleet (it has 386), thanks also to the 225-plane mega-order (plus a hundred options) placed in December 2023 with Airbus and what is expected to be imminent with Boeing intends to become one of the world's largest airlines by 2033, with about 800 aircraft.

Air Europa, on the other hand, has a small-to-medium fleet of 56 airplanes in which, however, next to 28 Boeing 737s (26 -800s and 2 MAX 8s), there are a whopping 28 Boeing 787s, 10 of the -8 series and 20 of the -9 series, with which it serves a widespread network in Latin America, plus a few cities in North America.

The two companies are part of two different international alliances: Turkish is in fact in Star Alliance, while Air Europa is in Skyteam. Should the transaction follow the tracks of those recently concluded between the Lufthansa Group and ITA Airways and between Air France/KLM and SAS, it is highly likely that Air Europa, as a result of Turkish's entry into its capital, will leave Skyteam and join Star Alliance, which is already by far the largest among international alliances with 25 'full members' (not counting ITA and possibly Air Europa).

Skyteam, which acquired Scandinavian Airlines coming to a total of 18 'full members,' had, however, previously 'lost' Czech Airlines (bankrupt) and ITA Airways, which will join Star Alliance in 2026.