The negotiation between the German aviation group Lufthansa and the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) for the purchase of 40% (value 250-300 million Euros) of the national air carrier ITA Airways is close to a positive conclusion. According to recent rumors, the negotiation, as anticipated by AVIONEWS, after various extensions, would now be in the final stages: some details are being defined, in particular the management aspects, on which the parties are increasingly close.

The negotiation dossier is surrounded by the utmost confidentiality and the rumors about the negotiation are filtered with extreme caution. In fact, what is at stake has enormous weight: Lufthansa is currently the third largest airline globally and with the privatization of the Italian flag carrier, it would greatly enhance its strategic position in Europe (the challenge with low-cost airlines) and in the world (routes to North Africa and North America), entering the Italian market, one of the most sparkling and quality ones in Europe.

The Lufthansa-ITA Airways negotiation was also the subject of discussions at the G7 summit in Hiroshima, during the bilateral meeting between the Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, and the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz. Italian sources reported that the two political leaders discussed the synergies that can be opened up between the two countries. 

On the matter see also the article published by AVIONEWS.