Lufthansa Group’s Post

Lufthansa Group 🇧🇪 🇩🇪 🇦🇹 🇨🇭 and ITA Airways 🇮🇹 join forces. Customers will benefit from an increasing network and exciting travel opportunities ✈️ 🌍

Lufthansa finalised its acquisition of a 41% stake in Italian state-owned airline ITA after European antitrust remedies were put in place, it said on Friday, in a deal designed to boost the carrier's presence in the lucrative southern European market. "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," Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr said. https://lnkd.in/ewTrqTCY #travel #tourism #biznews

The European Commission has approved Deutsche Lufthansa AG’s acquisition of a 41% stake in ITA Airways, subject to conditions. The transaction, valued at €325 million, is expected to close in Q4 2024, followed by a swift integration into the Lufthansa Group. Key Takeaway: This acquisition will make Italy the Lufthansa Group’s fifth "home market" and the second largest market in terms of revenue after Germany and the USA. Impact: The integration of ITA Airways will enhance Lufthansa Group's network, offering over 1,000 new transfer options and boosting competition in the Italian market currently dominated by low-cost airlines. Action Required: Stakeholders should monitor the finalization of this transaction and the subsequent integration, which promises to expand service offerings and improve market dynamics. Stay informed on key regulatory updates by following Global Regulatory Insights! #GRI #RegulatoryUpdates #Compliance #LegalIntelligence

On January 15, 2025, Lufthansa Group acquired a 41% stake in ITA Airways, Italy’s national carrier, for €325 million. The Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance retains a 59% share, with Lufthansa planning to achieve full ownership by 2033 through a total investment of €829 million. This deal strengthens Lufthansa’s position in Southern Europe, making ITA its fifth network carrier. Jörg Eberhart, formerly of Lufthansa and Air Dolomiti, has been appointed ITA Airways’ CEO. The acquisition received EU approval after Lufthansa agreed to competition remedies, such as granting rivals access to specific routes and airport slots. Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr highlighted the deal’s potential to improve connections and services across Italian and European markets. 2025-01-20 .

Lufthansa to Take Stake in ITA Airways - Lufthansa Group (Germany) is poised to finalize a major deal to acquire a stake in ITA Airways (Italy) on January 13, 2025, marking the culmination of years of negotiations. This strategic investment is expected to strengthen Lufthansa’s position in the European aviation market and provide ITA Airways with a stable partner to support its growth and modernization efforts. - https://lnkd.in/dB24MP9c

The European Commission has officially approved Lufthansa Group's takeover of ITA Airways. This is the first big post-pandemic airline consolidation deal to win approval in Europe; International Airlines Group (IAG)'s takeover of Air Europa is still pending, and Air France-KLM's investment in SAS - Scandinavian Airlines is small (19.9%) and doesn't represent a full takeover. Approval comes with conditions that the group enable new competition on routes to Central Europe from Milan and Rome; release slots at Milan Linate to new competitors (reportedly easyJet and Volotea); and maintaining competition on long-haul routes. "The acquisition of ITA Airways strengthens the internationalization of the Lufthansa Group," Lufthansa Group CEO Carsten Spohr said. "We offer our guests a significantly greater choice of connections and destinations, and with the 5-star hub in Rome we are also extending our premium offering and better connecting strategic future markets south of the equator to our network." Lufthansa expects the deal to close in the fourth quarter (of 2024). Background on Lufthansa's plans for ITA, and hope to expand connections to Africa and South America via Rome: https://lnkd.in/g-kZP6Xd And some background on how the European elections could have factored into EC approval of the Lufthansa-ITA deal on The Air Current: https://lnkd.in/eYAkPtn9 #airlines

Lufthansa to Take Stake in ITA Airways - Lufthansa Group (Germany) is poised to finalize a major deal to acquire a stake in ITA Airways (Italy) on January 13, 2025, marking the culmination of years of negotiations. This strategic investment is expected to strengthen Lufthansa’s position in the European aviation market and provide ITA Airways with a stable partner to support its growth and modernization efforts. - https://lnkd.in/dB24MP9c

✈ We've reported recently how the Italian government is evaluating options to reduce the stake in ITA Airways it sells to Lufthansa Group to below 20%, which would do away with the necessity to secure European Commission approval for the planned deal. 🖊 This first backup option would be relatively straightforward as it would simply reduce the stake sold to the Lufthansa parent from the currently proposed 41% to 19.9%, which would be possible under the existing political decisions and would not necessitate a complex renegotiation. However, it would also not allow ITA to benefit from the proposed synergies with the holding fully. ➡ Take a look at the most recent Lufthansa financial insights:

Lufthansa Group has officially acquired a 41% stake in ITA Airways, marking a significant milestone in the Italian airline's journey and a strategic move for the German aviation giant. This acquisition, finalized on January 16, 2025, follows months of negotiations and regulatory approvals. Under the agreement, Lufthansa will initially hold a 41% stake, with the remaining 59% held by the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF). However, Lufthansa has the option to acquire full control of ITA by 2033. For Lufthansa, this deal represents a major expansion into the lucrative Italian market. ITA Airways, formerly known as Alitalia, offers a strong foothold in a country with a rich aviation history and a growing tourism sector. By joining forces with ITA, Lufthansa aims to strengthen its network, enhance its competitiveness, and capitalize on new growth opportunities. For ITA Airways, the partnership with Lufthansa provides much-needed stability and expertise. The Italian airline has faced financial challenges in recent years, and the backing of a major European carrier like Lufthansa is expected to provide the resources and guidance needed to thrive. #Airport #Airline #Europe #Lufthansa #ITA #AviationIndustry #AviationOasis https://lnkd.in/e8MbPWGB

The Lufthansa Group has finalized its 41 percent stakeholding in ITA Airways, marking a significant expansion in the Italian aviation market. https://lnkd.in/eXz6at-3 #Lufthansa #LufthansaGroup #ITAAirways #AvGeek