Lufthansa to Acquire Majority Stake in ITA Airways for €325 Million

Lufthansa announced Tuesday it will exercise its option to acquire a majority stake in ITA Airways in June of this year. The company will pay the previously agreed purchase price of €325 million to raise its ownership from 41% to 90%. The Italian government, which had held 59% of the airline, will retain a 10% stake after the sale.

The company's board approved the deal on Monday. The transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals in both the European Union and the United States. Since acquiring the initial 41% minority stake in January 2025, the company had reserved the right to gradually increase its ownership.

If approved, the acquisition is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2027. The increased ownership will result in ITA Airways being fully integrated into the Lufthansa Group both organisationally and financially. All customer-facing interfaces are already integrated with the exception of North Atlantic flights, where regulatory approval for the merger is still pending.

In a separate statement, ITA Airways said the full integration will allow it to compete more strongly in international markets. The company described the move as a step of major industrial and strategic significance. Lufthansa's share price rose 2% in early afternoon trading in Europe.