
Lufthansa plans to join ITA Airways by January 2025
The Lufthansa Group, one of the largest players in global air transport, is about to take a decisive step to strengthen its position in the European market. Lufthansa's planned entry into the Italian airline ITA Airways, which is to be completed at the beginning of 2025, marks a milestone in the development of both companies. As the Italian business magazine "Milano Finanza" reports, Lufthansa is on the home stretch to acquire a 41 percent stake in ITA Airways, the successor company to Alitalia. The takeover, which is being prepared in close cooperation with the Italian Ministry of Finance, follows a clear roadmap. However, in order to maintain this, a number of hurdles still have to be overcome, particularly with regard to the European Union's competition requirements. A closer look at these and the strategic importance of the entry shows why this partnership is of great importance not only for the airlines involved, but also for the entire European aviation market. Lufthansa's strategic direction: The Italian market in focus With the planned acquisition of ITA Airways, Lufthansa wants to expand its influence in one of the most important aviation markets in Europe, the Italian one. Italy is one of the most popular travel destinations worldwide, both for tourists and business travelers. In addition, the airports in Milan and Rome are important hubs for international air traffic, especially on the transatlantic routes, on which Lufthansa wants to further strengthen its presence. The importance of the Italian market for Lufthansa is also evident from the fact that the airline has been interested in taking over ITA Airways for years. After the end of the traditional Alitalia and the founding of ITA in 2021,