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Lufthansa settles acquisition of 41% stake in Italy's ITA

Lufthansa settled its acquisition of a 41% stake in Italian stateowned airline ITA after European antitrust treatments were put in location, it stated on Friday, in a deal developed to boost the carrier's presence in the financially rewarding southern European market.

Lufthansa formerly stated the deal, under which it paid 325 million euros ($ 334 million) for the stake in the successor airline to insolvent Alitalia - was expected to close in early 2025.

The European Commission approved a bundle of competition treatments in November, protecting more paths for the German flag provider's competitors and paving the way for the deal to go through.

With our financial investment, we will now strengthen the Italian and European aviation market and the position of the Lufthansa Group as number one in Europe, Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr said.

Our joint guests worldwide will gain from improved deals and optimised connections as early as this upcoming summer flight schedule.

The remaining 59 percent of ITA will at first continue to be held by the Italian Ministry of Economy and Financing, Lufthansa included, as ITA Airways ends up being the group's fifth network airline.

(source: Reuters)