According to the Italian newspaper Il Messaggero, Lufthansa Group is in talks with ITA Airways to purchase a 15% to 40% interest in the new Italian airline’s capital.
On October 15th, ITA Airways began operations, replacing the loss-making Alitalia. Since then, it has demonstrated the ability to become Italy’s flagship enterprise. It has placed an order for 28 new Airbus planes, joined the Skyteam alliance, and inked codeshare arrangements with a number of airlines.
By acquiring ITA Airways, Lufthansa would prevent Air France-KLM and its partner Delta Air Lines from dominating the Italian market through an alliance with ITA Airways, as they did with Alitalia inside the SkyTeam alliance.
