Lufthansa's acquisition of Italy's ITA Airways receives conditional approval from the EU Commission after a year-long battle.

Lufthansa invests €325 million for a 41% stake in ITA Airways, with an aim for full control by 2033 and a total investment of €829 million.

The deal includes safeguards to protect competition, such as allowing rival airlines to operate non-stop flights between key Italian airports.

Italian Finance Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti hails the agreement as 'historic,' aiming to relieve the Italian government from continuous financial support for the struggling airline, previously known as Alitalia.

EU regulators closely monitor the consolidation to ensure fair competition and quality for passengers, amidst concerns of dominance by major carriers like Lufthansa.

Airlines face increasingly complex and costly approval processes for mergers, with regulators seeking tougher concessions to maintain fair competition in the industry.