ITA Airways sale, deal with Lufthansa takes off: privatization kicks off

Many today will finally say., others will cry scandal over the loss of identity with the sale of Italy's national airline to Germany. We here at TFC are simply happy That it has come, almost out of time, to the only possible solution left.

After weeks of negotiations, in fact, The agreement between the Ministry of Economy and Lufthansa on the future of Ita Airways is official. On today, Thursday, May 25, the two sides signed the historic agreement which will lead to the German company becoming part of the Italian company's capital.

Recently, Premier Giorgia Meloni, on the sidelines of the G7 held in Hiroshima in recent days, had discussed with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz precisely the dossier. 

In June 2021, when ITA's blue planes were only in the dreams of a few, I used to write on this site my opinion among the possible buyers of Alitalia. When he came out of the closet MSC I was hoping for that solution and when was Certares choice I remained doubtful On a prosperous future for our banidera company.

Still a long way to go before operation

Today is just the first step on a long road that will lead, if all goes smoothly, By the end of 2023 or the beginning of 2024 to the actual signing. The deal will have to get the go-ahead from Europe and the various anti trusts around the world, and to understand how much this deal is not a foregone conclusion we need only think of the Korean and Asiana merger, recently Failed by the very European anti trust.

In the meantime, however, the LH group will enter the control room and start preparing the ground for what will be ITA Airways' future within the Lufthansa galaxy.

Satisfied with the Minister of Economy, Giancarlo Giorgetti, which has commented thus on the agreement between Ita and Lufthansa: "Today marks the end of a path in the history of the national flag carrier, which led to the prospect of integration with a major European carrier. With this government today unties a knot that has conditioned the aviation market in Italy for 30 years. We are convinced that this decision will allow the aviation market to develop in the interest of Italy."

What happens now

It will change a lot, but apparently it will change little. Having to wait for the green light from the various regulators and the appropriate requirements, what will change will be the agreements in place. Already finished code-share with Delta for U.S. will sign pacts with United to allow Italian passengers to continue connected travel to the U.S., and most importantly you will have access to United passengers on the rich tourist market from the U.S. to Italy.

The move to Star Alliance is a foregone conclusion, but it will not be immediate: Lazzerini himself said so, to fully migrate to the new alliance will take no less than a year.

Meanwhile, ITA's industrial plan will continue, starting with the entry of 23 aircraft into the fleet by the end of the year. The first A330/900neo will arrive in the next few weeks, by the end of the year there will be 7 in total, and 3 more aircraft per month between A220, A320neo and the first A321neo LR.

Summer 23 is now closed: it is likely that some adjustment will be made on the winter season, which launches at the end of October. ITA currently has not announced any new long-haul destinations, except for the flight to Rio De Janeiro and of theIncreased frequencies on routes already served.

Management of the two companies will immediately begin working on everything from joining systems, aligning procedures, and group purchasing. All practices that will bring mutual economic and know-how benefit.

In conclusion

The signing of the agreement between the Ministry of Economic Development and Lufthansa is a first step: Now all the various bureaucratic steps come into play, but the figure is drawn. LH has put in black and white its willingness to become a shareholder in ITA Airways with the possibility of becoming a majority shareholder in the coming years.

• ita airways sale