SINGAPORE, 14 May 2026: ITA Airways welcomes Deutsche Lufthansa AG’s decision to acquire an additional 49% stake in the company, for a value of EUR325 million, thereby increasing its shareholding to 90% of ITA Airways.
The Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance will retain the remaining 10% of the share capital.
Completion of the transaction is expected in the first quarter of 2027, subject to approval by the relevant authorities, including the European Commission and the US Department of Justice.
The company is now preparing to enter a new phase of growth within the Lufthansa Group, thereby improving its exposure to the European and international air transport markets.
ITA Airways will continue to operate under its own brand, which will be maintained and enhanced within the group’s structure. Closer integration into the Lufthansa Group will enable ITA Airways to develop further industrial and commercial synergies with the group’s airlines, while preserving its Italian identity.
For the company, this represents an opportunity to consolidate its role as Italy’s reference carrier, contributing to the growth of the country’s connectivity and to the promotion of Made in Italy around the world.
Italy represents a strategic market in the European and international landscape: it is the third-largest economy in the European Union and the Lufthansa Group’s largest catchment area outside the United States and its home markets. In this context, ITA Airways confirms its central role in connecting the country with the rest of the world, supporting tourism, businesses, trade flows and international mobility.
ITA Airways’ integration path as the Lufthansa Group’s fifth network airline will also continue, building on the progress already made and the major customer milestones achieved.
“This new phase represents a step of major industrial and strategic significance for ITA Airways. Over the past few years, we have built a solid, recognisable company focused on quality, thanks to the contribution of our people and the trust of our customers, and Deutsche Lufthansa’s decision is a clear demonstration of the good work carried out so far,” said ITA Airways Chief Executive Officer and General Manager Joerg Eberhart. “We look to the future with ambition and responsibility: full integration into the Lufthansa Group will allow us to compete more strongly in international markets, while continuing to bring to the world the value of Italy, its connectivity and its capacity for innovation.”
(Source: ITA Airways)
