New ITA Airways CEO Joerg Eberhart
said Monday that the carrier is set for a year of consolidation
ahead of growth in the 2026-2027 period during a news conference
with Lufthansa's chiefs after the tie-up with the German
airline.
"We are working on business plans and budgets and last year's
budget, so there is plenty of work to do," said Eberhart.
"Now we will have to make the plan which will provide, after a
year of consolidation in 2025, growth in 2026 and 2027,
especially on long haul, with opportunities for new employment.
"This year will be one of consolidation, so lots of new hires
are not expected, there will be something linked to the
replacement of retirements, but the numbers will be quite low,
while from '26, '27 and '28 we are expecting new hires".
He added that the ITA may well look to bring back former
Alitalia workers.
Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr, meanwhile, said he was confident
that ITA would make a profit this year.
"We are convinced that, with the start of the merger of ITA
Airways into the Lufthansa Group today, a joint success story
begins for customers, employees and the shareholders of ITA
Airways and the Lufthansa Group," Spohr said.
"Now that ITA Airways became a member of our airline family a
few days ago, we want to quickly move forward with the merger,
so that ITA and its passengers, as well as guests of our other
passenger airlines, can quickly benefit from the advantages of
an expanded Lufthansa Group".
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