and is that a bottle of the can’t-even-buy-it, notionally $1,500 Champagne Salon behind that Etihad business class bar?
With the big S on it?
One up/down and four across from the two bottles of the thoroughly gluggable but $25 Willamette Valley not-a-Champagne sparkling wine, Argyle?
![Screenshot. Text: Deutsche Lufthansa AG’s stake in ITA Airways is set to increase by 49 percent to 90 percent
Second block of shares to be acquired for 325 million euros
Completion of the majority acquisition expected in the first quarter of 2027
ITA Airways is already firmly integrated into the Lufthansa Group as its fifth network airline in many areas
Frankfurt, 12 May 2026 - The Deutsche Lufthansa AG will exercise its option to acquire a majority stake in ITA Airways in June of this year. This will increase its stake from 41 to 90 percent. The Supervisory Board approved this decision by the Lufthansa Executive Board at its meeting yesterday.
The acquisition of the additional 49 percent stake will take place at a previously agreed purchase price of 325 million euros. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals, primarily from the European Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2027. Following this, ITA Airways will be fully integrated into the Lufthansa Group, both organizationally and financially.
Since 17 January 2025, Deutsche Lufthansa AG has held a 41 percent stake in ITA Airways as a minority shareholder. Upon the conclusion of the purchase agreement with the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) in June 2023, an annually recurring option for Deutsche Lufthansa AG to acquire an additional 49 percent stake in ITA Airways was agreed upon. This option is now being exercised along with the accompanying acquisition of a majority stake in the Italian flagship carrier. The seller is the MEF, which will initially continue to hold the remaining 10 percent of the shares in ITA Airways. In 2028, this tranche may also be acquired by Lufthansa.
[Truncated: link at https://newsroom.lufthansagroup.com/en/lufthansa-exercises-option-to-acquire-a-majority-stake-in-ita-airways/]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:6neozl3pgi7pn2byzjvggpas/bafkreifbpliff6t3ach2ww2lgj5slcshxmbmczllp77t5qfqakv6mwuxui)
![Press release: National 31st March, 2026: The Board of InterGlobe Aviation Limited (IndiGo) today
appointed Mr. William Walsh as the Chief Executive Officer, subject to Regulatory approvals. Mr.
Walsh’s tenure at IATA comes to a close on the 31st of July, 2026, and he is expected to join no later
than on the 3rd of August, 2026.
Mr. Walsh (popularly known as Willie) is currently the Director General of IATA (International Air
Transport Association) and was formerly CEO of British Airways and IAG (International Airlines Group,
a holding company which owns Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, Level and Vueling).
Welcoming Mr. Walsh, Mr. Vikram Singh Mehta, IndiGo’s Chairman said, “I am thrilled that Willie will
be at helm of IndiGo. He is an exceptional global aviation leader with a stellar track record of
outstanding leadership across several airlines. His experience in managing large scale airline
operations and navigating complex market dynamics make him ideally suited to strengthen and lead
IndiGo for continued growth in an ever evolving and competitive international aviation environment.
His appointment will mark a new chapter for IndiGo, as it continues its journey in one of the fastest
growing aviation markets in the world.”
Rahul Bhatia, Managing Director of IndiGo added, “As we enter a new phase of transformation and
growth, I am delighted to welcome Willie to IndiGo. He is an iconic and accomplished aviation leader
and brings a rare combination of global perspective, operational expertise of having built strong
customer-focused airlines, deep industry experience and a values driven leadership, making him
exceptionally suited to lead IndiGo at this pivotal cusp of growth.”
Mr. Walsh is widely considered as one of the most successful, respected, influential and long-lasting
leaders in modern aviation history. He is admired for his pragmatic and resolute
management, effective complex restructuring, and successful mergers and acquisitions. [truncated]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:6neozl3pgi7pn2byzjvggpas/bafkreihuwso5yhdpx54bv5dkfkjrzibwkprf6zw3pk2sjamkl2nc4rob2m)
![Text, in italics:
Editor’s note: The Up Front will not analyse this submission because it comprises in its entirety slides with generative AI slop images, nonsensical backwards graphs, and Comic Sans text, which even managed to misspell its airline’s name in one place.
A lowlight is the slide where the seatback AI sludge text includes “20% OFF is Hight Pcottiest” and “Onft:Offer” [both sic].
Hard questions should be asked about whether it should been disqualified before even being shortlisted, let alone reaching the finals in a genuinely competitive category.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:6neozl3pgi7pn2byzjvggpas/bafkreibskziybfs34k54t42vdr7vb5oshgdlwxurfr6blrhheeh7e3ljoe)
