The European Commission approved the Lufthansa Group acquisition of a substantial stake in ITA Airways in 2024 conditional on slot divestitures at Milan Linate and selected Linate connections. The deal closed in early 2025 with Lufthansa investing substantial new equity. ITA Airways now operates as a Lufthansa Group subsidiary alongside Eurowings, Swiss, Brussels Airlines and Austrian Airlines, with the integration of FFP into Miles & More planned through 2026.
IAG-Air Europa Saga
The IAG attempt to acquire Air Europa for approximately 500 million EUR collapsed in late 2024 after the European Commission demanded substantial slot divestments at Madrid Barajas that the parties considered economically infeasible. Air Europa returned to standalone operation under the Hidalgo family ownership, with the carrier pursuing a fleet renewal to 787-10 and A330neo. The episode confirms persistent Commission scrutiny of intra-Iberian consolidation given the dominance of Madrid hub by combined IAG and Iberia Express.
Eastern European Carrier Movements
LOT Polish Airlines under Polish State Treasury control resumed pre-pandemic capacity expansion during 2024, with the carrier ordering 787-9 frames for delivery 2026-2030. Warsaw Chopin hub strengthens as a Star Alliance secondary Asian gateway. Speculation about Hungarian Wizz Air subsidiary and Romanian Blue Air consolidation remains unfulfilled despite occasional speculation, with Wizz Air’s organic growth strategy not relying on M&A for Eastern European market share.
Regional Subsidiary Network Coherence
The Lufthansa Group’s CityLine and Eurowings franchise sit alongside Brussels, Swiss and Austrian under a portfolio approach allowing differentiated route economics per market. AF-KLM Transavia covers French and Dutch leisure markets through dual home bases. IAG’s Vueling, Aer Lingus and LEVEL franchises serve distinct geographic niches in southern Europe, the British Isles and the LEVEL transatlantic leisure long-haul mission. Each holding company refines the multi-brand strategy through 2026 against the slot-constrained continental hub environment.