Swiss authorities to investigate agreement between Darwin and Etihad

The Swiss Federal Office for Civil Aviation (FOCA) investigates the company structure of Darwin Airline, that operates as Etihad Regional Airlines. All swiss carriers need to be both majority owned and controlled by Swiss or EU citizens.

Swiss newspaper „Handelszeitung“ reports FOCA doubts that Darwin is not Etihad controlled. Now there is a deadline until September 30 th to provide details of the company structure after the proposed transaction of 33,3 % to Etihad Airways.

FOCA believes that the structure of the agreement between Darwin and Etihad could let to control of Darwin by Etihad. This would violate Swiss law. The authority would consider all option including a possible revocation of Darwin’s Air Operator Certificate (AOC).

On the other hand Etihad Airways said that the proposed transaction to acquire 33,3 % in Darwin is still not closed. At the moment Etihad Airways has no shares in Darwin.