Deutsche Lufthansa is moving to take majority control of ITA Airways, announcing it will purchase an additional 49% stake for 325 million euros ($383 million) next month. The transaction will boost Lufthansa's ownership to 90%, giving the German carrier dominant control over the Italian airline that was formerly known as Alitalia.

Lufthansa acquired its initial 41% stake in ITA Airways through a 2023 agreement with the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance, when Rome moved to privatize the struggling carrier. That deal granted Lufthansa the option to increase its stake at a later date, which the German group is now exercising.

The deal requires approval from both the European Union and the U.S. Department of Justice. Lufthansa expects the transaction to close in the first quarter of 2027, cementing German control over Italy's flagship carrier and reshaping the competitive dynamics of European aviation.