Italy rejects Lufthansa/ MSC bid and picks AF-KLM for ITA Airways

Photo: Vincenzo Gentile

In a perhaps surprising development, Lufthansa and MSC appear to have been rebuffed in their joint attempt to take on 80% of ITA Airways – while Delta and AF-KLM (now connected, of course, to CMA CGM) have been picked instead. The preferred group, led by US private equity fund Certares, hopes to take on 60% of the carrier. Lufthansa, meanwhile, said it still thought its offer was the “better solution”. Reuters reports.