Container shipping giant Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC) is interested in acquiring a majority stake in Italian state airline ITA Airways.
The MSC Group aims to create a partnership with the Italian Government and the German airline Lufthansa.
Both the MSC Group and Lufthansa have expressed the wish that the Italian Government maintains a minority stake in the Company, said ITA Airways.
Furthermore, the MSC Group and Lufthansa have requested 90 days of exclusivity to work on this Expression of Interest.
“ITA Airways is satisfied that the work carried out in recent months to offer the best prospects to the company is starting to have the expected results, providing for a company recognised as viable for partners of international reputation both in passenger and cargo transport,” said ITA Airways.
The company’s board of directors will examine the details of the expression of interest in an upcoming meeting.
MSC would not be the first shipping business to invest in aviation over the last year; France-based shipping group CMA CGM is also investing in the air cargo market. Last month, it firmed up an order for four A350F aircraft and applied to launch an airline – its current four freighter aircraft are operated by Air Belgium.
AP Moller Maersk, which owns the world’s largest container shipping line Maersk Line, is also expanding into the air cargo market. In November, the company acquired freight forwarder Senator International and five freighters.
In December, Air Cargo News reported that the Bolloré Group had received an offer from MSC to acquire 100% of Bolloré Africa Logistics.
Maersk targets air cargo with Senator acquisition and freighter order
