Lufthansa Group will exercise its option to increase its stake in ITA Airways (AZ, Rome Fiumicino) from the current 41% to 90% by June 2026 for EUR325 million euros (USD382 million). The transaction is subject to approvals from the European Union and United States authorities and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2027.

Italy's Ministry of Economy and Finance will retain the remaining 10% of the share capital, but the Italian carrier will become fully integrated operationally and financially into the holding company once the transaction is completed.

"We aimed to complete all major integration steps into Lufthansa Group within just 18 months. We have not only kept this promise. We were even faster: all customer-facing interfaces are already integrated today, with the exception of North Atlantic flights where, as is well known, regulatory approval for our merger is still pending," Lufthansa Group CEO Carsten Spohr said.

The group acquired the initial 41% stake in ITA Airways in January 2025, completing a transaction initially agreed on in 2023. It has consistently flagged its intention to exercise the option to increase the stake, subject to financial evaluation.

The Italian airline is already strongly integrated into the group, including joining Star Alliance in April 2026. The cooperation also covers the cargo business, with Lufthansa Cargo marketing the bellyhold capacity of ITA.

"Passengers already experience ITA Airways as an integrated part of Lufthansa Group, with unified booking, sales, and fare systems, the Miles and More frequent flyer program, Star Alliance membership, and access to our global network of premium lounges," Spohr pointed out.

ITA Airways will be the only Lufthansa Group network airline in which the holding does not hold a 100% stake. The group owns Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, and Brussels Airlines in terms of network carriers, together with their respective subsidiaries, as well as Eurowings, Discover Airlines, Air Dolomiti, Lufthansa Cargo, a 50% stake in AeroLogic, and a 40% stake in SunExpress. It also has a 10% stake in airBaltic. Lufthansa Group is bidding to acquire up to 49.9% of TAP Air Portugal.

Separately, Lufthansa Group's largest individual shareholder, Kühne Aviation, increased its stake from 15.01% to 20% on May 8, 2026. The company is backed by logistics magnate Klaus-Michael Kühne.