Lufthansa Eyes 90% ITA Stake for Stronger Southern Europe Presence

Lufthansa Group has entered preliminary negotiations to increase its ownership in Italy’s ITA Airways from the current 41 percent to 90 percent.

The proposal includes an additional investment of €325 million (around $380 million) plus a potential €100 million (around $117 million) performance-related bonus.

If all conditions are met, the deal could be completed by June 2026.

Lufthansa signed an agreement to acquire its initial 41 percent stake in ITA Airways in May 2023. The European Commission approved the deal in November 2024.

Moving to a 90 percent stake would give Lufthansa much greater control of ITA Airways, enabling deeper integration into Lufthansa’s network that includes Austrian Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, and Brussels Airlines.

Italy is Lufthansa’s second most critical international market after its core German-speaking regions. ITA’s Rome and Milan markets are key hubs for expanding Lufthansa's presence in southern Europe.

Negotiations continue, with a final decision expected in spring 2026. Lufthansa is monitoring ITA’s profitability improvements and market conditions to finalize terms.

Just a few days ago, Lufthansa introduced its NDC Connectivity Program, an initiative to oversee the provider landscape and accelerate NDC adoption.

Photo by David Syphers on Unsplash