Lufthansa Strengthens Its Presence in Europe with a Strategic Investment in airBaltic
Lufthansa Group has taken a strategic step to strengthen its presence in the European market by acquiring a 10% stake in airBaltic. This investment, valued at 14 million euros, is part of an agreement that grants the German company a seat on the Supervisory Board of the Latvian airline and reinforces the relationship between the two companies.
A Commitment to Expansion and Service Quality
The agreement stipulates that the convertible share acquired by Lufthansa will be transformed into ordinary shares if airBaltic conducts an initial public offering (IPO). In such a scenario, Lufthansa’s stake in the airline will not be less than 5%, depending on the market valuation of the IPO.
Lufthansa’s investment is supported by the strong commercial cooperation between the two airlines, which includes a wet lease agreement that has recently been extended for an additional three years, until after the summer of 2025. This collaboration allows Lufthansa to deploy up to 21 additional efficient Airbus A220-300 aircraft in the summer and five aircraft of this type in the winter across its various European hubs.
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With the addition of these aircraft, Lufthansa can respond more flexibly to the growing demand for passengers during the summer season, while also enhancing the quality and stability of its intercontinental connections from its hubs. Furthermore, the expansion of the cooperation with airBaltic will improve the flight offerings to high-demand destinations within the Lufthansa Group’s route network.
airBaltic: A Strategic Partner for Lufthansa
airBaltic, headquartered with its main hub in Riga, is Latvia’s largest airline and operates a modern fleet of 50 Airbus A220 aircraft, renowned for their fuel efficiency. Since 2019, the collaboration between Lufthansa and airBaltic has proven to be a successful model, solidifying the Latvian airline as a reliable and valuable partner within the Lufthansa Group network.
Expectations and Closing of the Transaction
The closing of the transaction is expected in the second quarter of this year and is subject to approval by competition authorities.
This strategic move will not only strengthen Lufthansa’s position in the European market but will also benefit passengers by offering a more efficient, stable, and flexible network of connections.
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