Rome Airports CEO backs ITA-Lufthansa deal to grow Fiumicino hub

Rome’s airport operator said Deutsche Lufthansa AG would make an ideal partner for Italian flag carrier ITA Airways, with the German group’s multi-base strategy providing a boost to the city’s main Fiumicino hub. ITA needs to team up with a larger carrier to boost revenue, while Fiumicino would benefit from being Lufthansa’s new interchange for southern Europe, Aeroporti di Roma SpA Chief Executive Officer Marco Troncone said. “We are very positive about the Lufthansa business model,” Troncone said in an interview. “The company has extensive experience in dealing with post-crisis carriers and managing multiple hubs.” He added that ITA will remain a key partner with which Aeroporti di Roma will continue to profitably work regardless of the outcome of the sale process. Italy wants binding bids for ITA by Monday as it seeks an equity backer for the successor to failed Alitalia. Lufthansa and container line Mediterranean Shipping Co. form one of three groups that had expressed an interest earlier this month. Also in the running is a consortium of Delta Air Lines, Air France-KLM and US fund Certares, plus Wizz Air Holdings Plc investor Indigo Partners.<br/>