Lufthansa Moves to Take Control of Italy’s ITA Airways in €325 Million Deal

Lufthansa announced Tuesday that it plans to increase its stake in ITA Airways to 90 percent, marking a major step in the consolidation of Europe’s airline industry and strengthening the German carrier’s position in the Italian market.

Europe’s largest airline group said it would exercise its option to acquire a majority stake in the Italian airline in June at a previously agreed price of €325 million. The move follows Lufthansa’s purchase of a 41 percent stake in ITA Airways in January 2025.

The remaining shares are currently owned by the Italian government, which previously held 59 percent of the airline. Under the new arrangement, Italy is expected to retain a 10 percent holding once the transaction is completed.

Lufthansa said the deal had already received approval from its board of directors, though it still requires clearance from regulators in both the European Union and the United States.

Industry analysts said the acquisition would accelerate efforts to reshape Europe’s highly competitive aviation market while giving Lufthansa stronger access to Italy, one of the continent’s busiest travel hubs.

The company stated that once the process is finalized, ITA Airways would be “fully integrated” into the Lufthansa Group both financially and operationally.

Lufthansa chief executive Carsten Spohr said many parts of the integration were already underway.

“All customer-facing interfaces are already integrated,” Spohr said, adding that the only major area still awaiting approval involves North Atlantic flight operations, where regulatory clearance for the merger remains pending.

If regulators approve the transaction, Lufthansa expects the takeover process to be completed during the first quarter of 2027.

ITA Airways chief executive Joerg Eberhart welcomed the agreement, describing it as an important industrial and strategic development for the airline.

He said closer integration with Lufthansa would allow ITA Airways to compete more effectively on international routes and expand its long-haul operations through Rome’s main airports.

The deal represents another significant shift for Italy’s aviation sector following years of instability linked to the collapse of former national carrier Alitalia. ITA Airways was launched in 2021 as Alitalia’s successor after the Italian government moved to restructure the struggling airline industry.

For Lufthansa, the acquisition strengthens its network in southern Europe and increases access to transatlantic and intercontinental traffic. Rome is viewed as a potentially important hub for long-haul services connecting Europe with North America, Latin America and parts of Africa.

Investors reacted positively to the announcement. Lufthansa shares rose around 2 percent in afternoon trading across European markets as traders welcomed the company’s expansion strategy despite continued challenges facing the global aviation sector, including rising fuel costs and geopolitical tensions affecting international travel routes.