Deutsche Lufthansa expects it could close the deal to buy Austrian Airlines on or around September 3, a person familiar with the negotiations said on Tuesday.

But that date is not set in stone, the person said, adding the timing depended on when the European Union granted approval for the acquisition.

Austrian newspaper Die Presse earlier cited company sources as saying the deal was to be signed on September 3.

Lufthansa needs to obtain EU approval of the acquisition by a self-imposed August 31 deadline. After approval is obtained, it would take about 10 business days for the deal to close, a spokeswoman for Lufthansa said.

I can neither confirm nor deny that (September 3) date, she said.

(Reporting by Angelika Gruber; Writing by Maria Sheahan; editing by John Stonestreet)