(Finance) – The capital increase operation has been completed 325 million euros on the part of Lufthansa in ITA Airwayswith a 41% share of the Italian company’s capital. The announcement came from the German group in a note. From today, therefore, the Italian flag carrier becomes part of the Lufthansa Group, becoming the fifth network airline of the group. The Lufthansa Group then specified that with the Ministry of Economy “options have been agreed for the acquisition of the remaining shares of Ita Airways, which can be exercised as early as this year”.
“Italy – declared the German company – thus becomes a further ‘domestic market’ for the Lufthansa Group. The country already represents the second most important international market for the company after the United States, excluding the domestic markets of Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Belgium”https://www.Finance.it/DettaglioNews/189_2025-01-17_TLB/ .”The airport Rome Fiumicinowith the 5-star Skytrax certification – he adds – will become the sixth and southernmost hub of the Lufthansa Group, while Milan Linatea strategic metropolitan airport in prosperous Northern Italy with the second largest catchment area in the European Union, will play a leading role in the Group.”
The CEO of Lufthansa also commented on the success of the operation, Carsten Spohr. “We are proud to welcome ITA Airways to the Lufthansa Group. I thank everyone who contributed to this achievement, especially in Rome, Brussels, Berlin and Frankfurt,” said Spohr.
Today the new Board of Directors of ITA Airwaysappointed by the Ordinary Shareholders’ Meeting of 15 January, confirmed the indications provided by the Assembly, attributing to Sandro Pappalardo the office of President and others Joerg Eberhart the role of CEO.
“Today is an important day for ITA Airways and for Italy – he declared Sandro PappalardoPresident of ITA Airways – A new phase begins for the Company, which in just over three years of operation and starting as a start-up has managed to achieve important results that have convinced an industrial partner as important as Lufthansa to believe in project and to invest in ITA Airways. Together with the new members of the Board of Directors, to whom I wish a good job, and the Management of the Company, we will continue on the growth path of ITA Airways with the full support of the Lufthansa Group, to continue to represent Italy in the world and make our Passengers who are increasingly proud to fly with us.”
“We are thrilled with the result achieved, which represents a historic moment for ITA Airways and for the entire air transport sector in Europe – declared Joerg EberhartCEO of ITA Airways – The Company is now more solid and, also thanks to the excellent results achieved so far, ready to face new challenges in a very competitive market, especially at a domestic level. The Lufthansa Group with ITA Airways is even stronger and I am sure that thanks to the synergies with the other carriers of the group we will be able to seize important growth opportunities, being able to count on one of the youngest and most efficient fleets in Europe and on professionalism of absolute value” .