For many years, Lufthansa has wanted to get involved in the Italian market and, ideally, to dominate it along the lines of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It has never really worked out so far, because Lufthansa Italia was a flop and Air Dolomiti has tasks as a regional carrier. Now the crane could take over up to 40 percent of Ita Airways.

With the state aid that Lufthansa received from the German government in 2020, you also had to accept a takeover ban. The crane was forbidden to “eat” other airlines. But that is now history again, because towards the end of the previous year the debt was rescheduled to normal capital market bonds and the ban on acquisitions is thus gone.

Alitalia would certainly have been happy if Lufthansa had simply bought up the ailing and deficit carrier, but the Spohr board of management found this bottomless pit too risky. ITA Airways, on the other hand, is interesting and its head of the board of directors literally woos Germany's largest airline. You scatter roses in order to be able to make yourself pretty for your dream partner Lufthansa.

At the same time, Air France-KLM and Delta Air Lines also have a not inconsiderable interest in joining ITA Airways or in taking over the carrier completely. Lufthansa is therefore under pressure to act, because you have the unique opportunity to be involved on a grand scale in Italy.

Various local media, including Affar Italiani, report that the managements of ITA Airways and Lufthansa are said to have become significantly closer. Accordingly, a capital stake on the part of the crane between 15 and 40 percent is up for debate. This is linked to the promise that Rome-Fiumicino Airport will be developed into a Lufthansa Group hub. They want to work closely together in different areas.

Neither ITA Airways nor Lufthansa want to go into the Italian media reports in detail. The news articles cannot be completely dismissed, however, because it is common knowledge that the Italian market has long been one of Lufthansa's desires.