United Airlines said on Friday it is donating $1m to President-elect Donald Trump's inaugural committee and said CEO Scott Kirby plans to attend various events over the long holiday weekend. Kirby will attend dinners on Saturday and Sunday but not the actual inauguration itself that was moved inside due to extreme cold forecasted. Other major companies donating $1m to the Trump inaugural fund include Delta Air Lines, Hyundai Motor U.S. unit, Chrysler-parent Stellantis, Boeing, General Motors, Ford Motor, Microsoft, Amazon.com, Alphabet and Facebook-parent Meta.<br/>
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Germany’s Lufthansa Group on Friday finalized its acquisition of Italian airline ITA Airways, closing a long period of uncertainty for Italy’s former flagship carrier. Under the E325m deal, Lufthansa takes an initial 41% stake in ITA, formerly Alitalia, from the Italian government, gaining full control by 2033 with a total investment of E829m. The remaining 59% will initially continue to be held by the Italian Treasury. This deal was originally announced in May 2023 and was approved by the European Commission following a year-long investigation and with conditions to protect competition. The commission noted that Lufthansa, ITA and its partners, for example, control most routes from Rome and Milan to North America. Under the deal, the merged company must make it possible for rival airlines to launch non-stop flights between Rome or Milan and central European airports, where competition is limited; make room for rivals on long-haul routes between Italy and the United States and Canada, and allot slots at Milan’s Linate airlines to competitors. “With our investment, we will now strengthen the Italian and European aviation market and the position of the Lufthansa Group as number one in Europe,” said Carsten Spohr, CEO Deutsche Lufthansa. “Our joint passengers worldwide will benefit from improved offers and optimized connections as early as this upcoming summer flight schedule,” he added.<br/>
Turkish Airlines is preparing to expand its global footprint with new long-haul services to Minneapolis, USA, and Auckland, New Zealand, according to Turkish local media Turizm Ekonomi. Ishrion Aviation shared the news on social media Threads on Saturday. The announcements were made by Ahmet Bolat, Chairman of the Board and Executive Committee of Turkish Airlines, during the Turkish Airlines Management Summit 2025 in Antalya, the article said. These new routes are set to enhance Turkish Airlines' position as one of the world's largest and most dynamic global carriers. Minneapolis will be the airline's newest destination in the United States. Turkish Airlines' increasing dominance in transatlantic travel is highlighted by the fact that it is presently the sole airline providing direct flights from Istanbul to many US destinations. According to the official website, Turkish Airlines operates flights to many cities in the United States: Atlanta, Boston, Washington D.C., Houston, New York (including both JFK and Newark airports), Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Seattle, and Detroit.<br/>
Song Bo-young, the new head of Asiana Airlines, is tasked with completing Korean Air's takeover on time, while minimizing potential backlash from employees and shareholders of the formerly cash-strapped airline, industry officials said Sunday. Song took office as CEO of Asiana on Jan. 16 after serving as head of passenger sales and network at Korean Air. The seamless integration of Korean Air and Asiana Airlines is the top priority under Song’s leadership. Last month, Korean Air deployed a team of eight executives specializing in safety, personnel, finance, flight management and maintenance to Asiana Airlines to expedite the nation’s flag carrier's takeover. The move, however, has raised concerns among Asiana employees, as the significant reshuffle of top management increases the likelihood of substantial organizational restructuring at the airline. Under the latest reshuffle, a total of 12 executives from Asiana Airlines left their posts, with those from Korean Air stepping into their roles. This has elevated Asiana employees' fears of restructuring.<br/>