Deutsche Lufthansa AG has successfully completed the acquisition of a 41% minority stake in ITA Airways, the Italian carrier that succeeded Alitalia, following an offer made in January 2023. The German airline has committed €325 million ($334 million) for its share, with the remaining 59% of ITA Airways continuing to be held by the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance, according to a statement from Lufthansa.
Lufthansa has also secured options to purchase the remaining shares in ITA Airways starting later this year. “With our investment, we will now strengthen the Italian and European aviation market and the position of the Lufthansa Group as number one in Europe,” said Carsten Spohr, CEO of Lufthansa.
The two-phase transaction reflects Lufthansa’s strategy to expand its presence in one of Europe’s largest aviation markets. However, the deal has attracted significant scrutiny from the European Commission, especially concerning its potential impact on long-haul travel competition.
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