Lufthansa Cleared to Acquire Minority Stake in airBaltic

Germany’s Federal Cartel Office has approved Lufthansa’s planned acquisition of a minority stake in Latvia-based airline airBaltic. The regulatory green light marks a key step in Lufthansa’s broader expansion strategy within the European aviation market.

The antitrust watchdog, led by agency chief Andreas Mundt, stated that the merger posed no significant threat to competition. "We had to clear the merger because on the whole, the routes affected constitute so-called minor markets with very low domestic sales volumes," Mundt noted in a public statement.

Lufthansa, Germany’s flag carrier and one of Europe’s largest airline groups, continues to strengthen its position across key regions. The deal with airBaltic enables Lufthansa to deepen its presence in Northern and Eastern Europe, a region where airBaltic has a strong operational footprint.

The approval comes amid growing consolidation in the airline industry, driven by the need for operational efficiency and increased resilience in the post-pandemic era. While no financial details of the minority stake were disclosed, the move reflects Lufthansa’s ongoing efforts to expand its regional alliances and optimize route connectivity.

The airBaltic acquisition is expected to enhance Lufthansa’s network capacity and provide travelers with improved access to Baltic destinations, while maintaining competitive balance across EU air routes.

This regulatory milestone reinforces Lufthansa’s long-term growth outlook and supports its strategic shift toward targeted equity partnerships. The decision also highlights the European Commission's and national regulators’ willingness to support airline consolidations that do not materially harm consumer choice or market dynamics.

With competition authorities seeing no major antitrust concerns, Lufthansa’s partial acquisition of airBaltic is now set to proceed, signaling more cross-border collaborations ahead in the European aviation sector.