Lufthansa Group (Germany) is poised to finalize a major deal to acquire a stake in ITA Airways (Italy) on January 13, 2025, marking the culmination of years of negotiations. This strategic investment is expected to strengthen Lufthansa’s position in the European aviation market and provide ITA Airways with a stable partner to support its growth and modernization efforts.
airBaltic, the Latvian flag carrier, faces mounting financial pressures as current bond liabilities and rising interest rates threaten its long-term sustainability. According to Klavs Vasks, chairman of airBaltic, a state capital injection may be inevitable unless the Latvian government is willing to fully relinquish its stake to other investors.
Switzerland and the European Union (EU) have reached a landmark agreement in the aviation sector, allowing Swiss airlines to operate domestic routes within the EU. This historic arrangement strengthens the aviation ties between Switzerland and EU member states, fostering enhanced connectivity and competition.
Ryanair (Ireland) has revealed its forecast for European flight operations, stating that its overall offering is expected to remain largely unchanged until 2027. However, the carrier has announced plans to reduce capacity into Germany, citing the impact of elevated taxes and fees on its operations.
PLAY (Iceland) reported carrying 99,393 passengers in November 2024, reflecting a 17% decline compared to the same month last year. Despite the drop in passenger numbers, the airline achieved a 7.9-point increase in load factor (LF), which rose to 82.4%.
SAS (Sweden) is exploring the possibility of returning to a publicly listed company through an Initial Public Offering (IPO), according to CEO Anko Van der Werff. This move is being considered in light of Air France-KLM’s current decision to maintain its existing stake in the airline rather than increasing it.
easyJet (UK) has reported robust financial results for the twelve months ending 30 September 2024, highlighting a strong recovery and growth trajectory. The airline achieved a 34% increase in profit before tax, reaching $766 million, alongside a 14% growth in group revenue, totaling $11.6 billion.
Air Europa (Spain) is in discussions with Air France-KLM Group regarding a potential acquisition of up to 20% of the Spanish airline’s capital. These negotiations reflect strategic alignment opportunities between the two entities as they explore ways to strengthen their positions in the European aviation market.
ITA Airways (Italy) chairman Antonino Turicchi has expressed optimism that the airline will secure final approval for its acquisition by Lufthansa Group (Germany) from the European Commission (EC) before the end of 2024. This approval marks a critical step in solidifying Lufthansa’s stake in the Italian national carrier.
Air Belgium has confirmed receiving a bid from a single investor by the November 15, 2025 deadline. The bid is reportedly focused on acquiring either the passenger or cargo division of the carrier. The airline now has until December 5, 2024, to either accept or reject the offer.
