Antonino Turicchi is leaving the presidency of ITA Airways, marking a significant change in the air company's governance. According to "Il Sole 24 Ore", his resignation comes amid tensions between the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) and Lufthansa, especially regarding delegations and management supervision. The new composition of the board of directors, which will be voted on today in second call, sees Joerg Eberhart of Lufthansa as a candidate for the managing directorship.

The Italian MEF will propose a new presidency that will not have the function of "piloting" but rather of ensuring the protection of national interests, avoiding overlaps in leadership roles. Among the favorite candidates for the presidency is Sandro Pappalardo, an experienced pilot with a past in military missions in Afghanistan and currently a member of the board of directors of Enit. Other names in the running include Ugo Arrigo, a professor of public finance and former member of the board of directors of ITA Airways, and a female candidate, whose name has not yet been revealed.

These appointments are crucial for the future of ITA, which, launched on 15 October 2021, has shown improvements in its financial results: from significant losses in 2021 and 2022, it has reduced the deficit to only 5 million in 2023, with a positive EBIT of 20 millions until November. The air company's cash position has also strengthened thanks to the contribution of EUR 325 millions from Lufthansa, which now holds 41% of the shares.

See for details AVIONEWS.