Lufthansa CEO, EU Competition Chief To Meet Monday - Official

BRUSSELS (AFP)--Deutsche Lufthansa AG (LHA.XE) Chief Executive Wolfgang Mayrhuber is due to hold talks Monday with the European Union's top competition official, with questions hanging over the German carrier's bid for Austrian Airlines AG (AUA.VI), an official said.

The meeting with E.U. Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes was due to take place "in the late afternoon or early evening," her spokesman said, and comes as the European Commission seeks clarification on Lufthansa's plans.

The commission, which is the E.U.'s top competition regulator, says it fears the takeover could lead to higher ticket prices or fewer flights on some routes and has demanded Lufthansa make concessions to protect European air travellers.

It launched an inquiry at the start of the month into the proposed link-up and has until Nov. 6 to make a decision.

But Lufthansa said its takeover offer, which must be approved, would only stand until July 31.