Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr thinks that the integration of ITA Airways into Lufthansa Group will be no more difficult than integrating Austrian Airlines, SWISS, and Brussels Airlines has been. Actually, it could be even easier as ITA has already been restructured, said Spohr. He spoke to the media on the sidelines of the IATA AGM in Istanbul. Lufthansa not worried about ITA Airways integration.
“A mixed management team of people who not just speak and know Italian. But also, ITA has some people who speak German. I definitely want people from both sides,” said Spohr of his plans with the ITA management. The plan is to have turned ITA’s losses around within two years after the acquisition closes. As was announced on May 25, the group will initially take a 41 percent stake for €325 million, with the option to buy 49 percent and the remaining ten percent later.
Active as a journalist since 1987, with a background in newspapers, magazines, and a regional news station, Richard has been covering commercial aviation on a freelance basis since late 2016.
Richard is contributing to AirInsight since December 2018. He also writes for Airliner World, Aviation News, Piloot & Vliegtuig, and Luchtvaartnieuws Magazine. Twitter: @rschuur_aero.
