ROME (Reuters) – Lufthansa will consider increasing its stake in Italy’s ITA Airways to 90% from early next year, the German airline’s chief executive said in an interview published on Thursday.
Carsten Spohr was speaking after his company received approval from European competition authorities to buy 41% of state-owned ITA for 325 million euros.
“For us, the 90% option starts at the beginning of 2025,” Spohr told Italy’s Corriere della Sera, adding that he would like the Italian government to retain a stake in ITA.
When Lufthansa reached a 41% deal with Rome authorities last year, it said it wanted to acquire full control of ITA “at a later date”.
In a separate interview with daily Il Sole 24 Ore, ITA chairman Antonino Turicchi said the closing of the deal for Lufthansa’s initial investment would take place in November, adding that Lufthansa would have the option to increase its stake to 90% “one year after closing”.
Italian Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said on Wednesday that his government wanted to maintain some oversight of ITA to protect national interests.
Speaking in Thursday’s Corriere della Sera, Spohr said he would like to “maintain the support” of the Italian government for the first two years of Lufthansa’s involvement with ITA. “Then we will discuss together what to do,” he added.
Spohr declined to say who will be appointed as ITA’s new CEO after Italian press reports suggested Joerg Eberhart, Lufthansa’s head of strategy and former boss of Air Dolomiti, would get the job.
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