Lufthansa not worried about ITA Airways integration

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.

About lessons learned, Spohr said: “Let’s be honest: with the integration of SWISS, we were very slow. It took us twenty years to come to the point where we are today. With Austrian, we were faster, with Brussels Airlines we were too slow before we got 100 percent, which is one learning that goes into the ITA case where we only own 41 percent. We will already have full executive power through the CEO and we have joint operational control with the Italian owners. So I think we are learning various cases and are well-prepared for ITA.”