Originally Posted by
nomad1974
For EU-US routes it suffices if it is EU-owned and controlled (hence LH is OK), because of the overarching EU-US "open skies" agreement. However, there are still bilateral air service agreements between the UK and other countries that have still not passed into the EU domain, if you will, so for those the airline needs to effectively remain in British ownership and control. I suppose it CAN be done (witness AF-KLM) but I understand it is easier between two EU carriers than otherwise.
Right. IIRC for LX takeover by LH it took around a year to get the bilaterals renegotiated to allow for.
If 9W (or any other non-EU airline) were to try similar it would take substantially longer and probably some would be unable to be renegotiated thus the airline may have to drop routes.