Lufthansa Finalizes ITA Airways Acquisition, Ticket Prices Expected to Rise

The German airline secures a 41% stake in ITA Airways with plans for full ownership, while passengers face higher fares due to rising costs.

Lufthansa has acquired a 41% stake in ITA Airways, the successor to Alitalia, for €325 million, with plans to fully own the airline in the future for a total of €829 million.
CEO Carsten Spohr announced that ITA will be integrated into Lufthansa's operations, with shared frequent flyer programs and coordinated flight schedules.
Ticket prices for ITA and other Lufthansa flights in Europe are expected to increase due to rising operational costs and the company's focus on achieving profitability.
The acquisition includes operational changes, such as ITA flights being handled at Lufthansa's terminals in Frankfurt and Munich starting in March 2025.
The European Commission required ITA to relinquish some airport slots to competitors like EasyJet as part of the deal to address competition concerns.