en.Wedoany.com Reported - On May 12, 2026, Germany's Lufthansa Group confirmed it will exercise its option to increase its stake in ITA Airways from 41% to 90%. This increase will take place in June 2026, but remains subject to approval by European and U.S. regulatory authorities.
On January 17, 2025, Lufthansa completed the initial acquisition of a 41% stake in ITA Airways through a capital increase of €325 million. The group stated at the time that options existed for a phased, gradual acquisition of the remaining shares. The latest decision translates this roadmap into a concrete acquisition strategy.
ITA Airways achieved its first annual profit in 2025: a net profit of €209 million, EBITDA of €404 million, and EBIT of €25 million. ITA management indicated that part of the improvement stemmed from initial operational synergies generated through cooperation with the Lufthansa Group. The airline operates a modern, Airbus-centric fleet, including A220s, A320neo family aircraft, A330neos, and A350s. This fleet structure is highly compatible with that of the Lufthansa Group, which already operates a large number of Airbus narrow-body and wide-body aircraft, including A319s, A320s, A321neos, A330s, and A350s. Fleet commonality brings synergistic advantages in training, maintenance, spare parts inventory, and procurement.
This acquisition by the Lufthansa Group is part of its broader restructuring strategy. In recent years, the group has faced pressures from rising labor costs, increasing operational expenses, competition from Gulf carriers and European low-cost airlines, and fleet renewal costs. In response, Lufthansa has accelerated its strategy of consolidation, multi-hub coordination, cost harmonization, and deeper integration among its subsidiaries. The group already controls major European carriers such as Swiss International Air Lines, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Eurowings. The addition of ITA Airways strengthens Lufthansa's position in Southern Europe and provides a stable platform in Italy, one of Europe's largest aviation markets.
Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr emphasized the importance of building a coordinated multi-airline group that generates sustainable profits through economies of scale and operational efficiency. The integration of ITA Airways is expected to yield benefits such as optimized flight scheduling, coordinated passenger flows on long-haul routes, enhanced connectivity at the Rome and Milan hubs, centralized procurement, shared maintenance, unified digital systems, and improved aircraft utilization. The group also plans to deepen Star Alliance connectivity throughout Southern Europe, linking Rome more effectively with Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Vienna, and Brussels.
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