Deutsche Lufthansa AG completed the acquisition of a minority stake in Italian carrier ITA Airways late on Friday after first making an offer for its competitor in January 2023.

The Italian airline ITA Airways is a new member of the Lufthansa Group. The Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) and Europe’s leading aviation group concluded the transaction today. As a result, the Lufthansa Group has a 41 percent stake in the Italian airline ITA Airways. The remaining 59 percent will initially continue to be held by MEF.

Lufthansa finalised its acquisition of a 41% stake in Italian state-owned airline ITA after European antitrust remedies were put in place, it said on Friday, in a deal designed to boost the carrier's presence in the lucrative southern European market.

Germany's Lufthansa Group on Friday finalized its acquisition of Italian airline ITA Airways, closing a long period of uncertainty for Italy’s former flagship carrier. Under the 325-million-euro ($350 million) deal,

Germany's Lufthansa Group has completed its long-sought acquisition of Italian carrier ITA Airways, finalising on 17 January its acquisition of a two-fifths stake in the company.

The MEF pointed out the divestiture of ITA Airways as one of the highlight-worthy moments of its tenure, noting that the Lufthansa Group’s purchase of the Italian airline’s 41% shares through a capital increase will conclude a 40-year history of wasting taxpayers’ money.

Under the €325-million ($350-million) deal, Lufthansa takes an initial 41 per cent stake in ITA, formerly Alitalia, from the Italian government, gaining full control by 2033 with a total investment of €829-million. The remaining 59 per cent will initially continue to be held by the Italian Treasury.