Darwin Airline (Lugano) and its shareholding are set to come under the scrutiny of the Swiss civil aviation regulator, the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA). AustrianAviationNet says FOCA intends to study the airline's exact relationship with new 33% shareholder Etihad Airways (EY, Abu Dhabi International) to determine whether or not it still satisfies all requirements of Swiss law.

"We are examining whether the so-called ownership-and-control conditions are met," FOCA spokesman Urs Holderegger said. He added that Darwin could lose its Swiss Air Operators Certificate if investigations reveal that those conditions have not been met.

Darwin has reiterated that Etihad's stake in the airline amounts to 33.3% of the airline's share capital with the remaining 66.7% still in the hands of Swiss investors.

Meanwhile, Darwin says it is now studying the possibility of operating its own Lugano to Zurich service. Swiss (LX, Zurich) recently announced it would not be renewing an existing contract with Darwin to operate the route on its behalf.