ITA Airways

To understand the story of ITA Airways, you first have to understand the epic, 74-year saga of its predecessor, Alitalia. For decades, Alitalia was Italy's state-owned flag carrier, but it was plagued by persistent financial troubles. After multiple failed rescue attempts and privatizations, the Italian government took ownership again in March 2020. The final chapter for Alitalia came with the global pandemic, and on October 15, 2021, the airline ceased operations. That very same day, its successor, Italia Trasporto Aereo (ITA), took to the skies. The new airline was founded by the Italian government, under the Ministry of Economy and Finance, in November 2020, with the goal of creating a financially stable national carrier. In a pragmatic first move, ITA Airways purchased the Alitalia brand for €90 million, not for nostalgia, but for the practical reason that its initial fleet and uniforms still bore the old branding. This allowed for a seamless operational start. Operating with a smaller fleet and workforce, ITA aimed to break from the past. The airline's pivotal moment arrived in January 2025, when Lufthansa Group finalized its acquisition of a 41% stake in the company. This deal, valued at €325 million, marked a new strategic direction, integrating ITA into a powerful European airline conglomerate and providing a clear path toward stability and growth. The Italian government retains a 59% majority stake for now, but Lufthansa has options to acquire the remaining shares in the future.