Lufthansa Acquires 41% Stake in Italian Airline ITA Airways

The German airline plans a full takeover of ITA Airways in phases, aiming to strengthen its position in Europe and expand long-haul routes.

Lufthansa has invested €325 million to acquire a 41% minority stake in ITA Airways, the successor to Alitalia, with plans for a full acquisition in future phases.
The agreement allows Lufthansa to increase its ownership to 90% and eventually 100%, contingent on ITA's financial performance, for a total price of €829 million.
The European Union approved the deal under strict competition rules, requiring ITA to cede key flight slots in Rome and Milan to EasyJet and offer favorable terms to competitors like British Airways and Air France.
ITA Airways' new leadership includes Lufthansa strategist Jörg Eberhart as CEO and Lorenza Maggio as a sales executive, signaling Lufthansa's operational influence.
With ITA Airways and Rome Fiumicino Airport as a new hub, Lufthansa aims to expand its long-haul routes to South America, Africa, and Asia, leveraging synergies for projected annual profits in the hundreds of millions.