Frankfurt (Germany), 12 May (LaPresse) – Lufthansa has announced that in June it will exercise its option to acquire a further 49% of Ita Airways, thereby increasing its stake from 41% to 90%. The deal, approved by Lufthansa’s Supervisory Board, will be worth €325 million and must be given the green light by the regulatory authorities, in particular the European Commission and the US Department of Justice. Completion is expected in the first quarter of 2027. Under the new structure, ITA Airways will be fully integrated into the Lufthansa Group from both an operational and financial perspective. The remaining 10% will initially remain with the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance, which may also sell this stake in 2028. Lufthansa acquired a stake in Ita Airways on 17 January 2025 with an initial holding of 41%, following the agreement signed in 2023 with the Italian Treasury. The agreement included an annual option to gradually increase the stake until control of the company was secured. During the general meeting of shareholders, CEO Carsten Spohr highlighted the speed of the integration between the two carriers. “We promised the fastest integration in the history of the Lufthansa Group and we have even exceeded expectations,” he said. According to Spohr, Ita Airways is already perceived by passengers as an integral part of the group thanks to the unification of booking and sales systems, its inclusion in the Miles & More loyalty programme, its membership of Star Alliance and access to the global network of premium lounges. Integration is also progressing in the cargo sector: Lufthansa Cargo is already marketing ITA Airways’ cargo capacity, which – according to the German group – is equivalent to the additional capacity of three Boeing 777 freighters.
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