The exclusive negotiations between Lufthansa and the Italian government to join the airline Ita Airways have been extended. Italy’s Economy Ministry today confirmed a report by Il Sole 24 Ore newspaper that the deadline is now May 12. That’s what the managers of the German group had asked for.
The talks are still going well, said a Lufthansa spokesman in Frankfurt today. There are still a few details that need to be clarified in order to bring the project to a successful conclusion. However, the spokesman did not want to comment on contract details.
Since January, both sides have been negotiating the takeover of a 40 percent stake in the successor to the legendary airline Alitalia. The Italian state is the sole owner of the loss-making Ita. Lufthansa also wants to secure options for a later full takeover of the airline. The deal would be subject to competition law reviews at national and European level.
