The acquisition agreement between Lufthansa and Ita was set to expire at midnight on Monday, November 11, 2024. Until the very last minute, uncertainty loomed over the deal due to Lufthansa's request for a discount on the agreed acquisition price. However, in a final-hour move, Lufthansa decided to withdraw its request, allowing Italy's Ministry of Economy to submit the corrective action agreement to the Directorate-General for Competition of the European Commission in time. These actions, requested in July, were crucial for receiving full EU approval.
The ministry now awaits the green light from the European Antitrust authority to finalize the sale. To approve the transaction, Brussels demanded measures to safeguard competition on ten routes from Milan Linate to Germany, Austria, Belgium, and Switzerland, as well as three routes to Washington, San Francisco, and Toronto. The European Commission's decision is expected by the end of November 2024, potentially enabling Ita's integration into Lufthansa by early 2025.
