ITA Airways

Cyprus rejected reports of an airspace closure on Friday, confirming that flights to and from the island are operating normally.

This clarification comes as airlines cancel services to Israel and Lebanon due to heightened tensions following recent assassinations of senior Hamas and Hezbollah members.

The European Commission today gave the green light for Lufthansa to buy Italian airline Ita (created after the closure of the historic Alitala).

The Italian government has given the green light to privatization of ITA Airways, the successor of Alitalia currently being eyed by Lufthansa and MSC.

ITA, which began operating in October out of the ashes of loss-making Alitalia, is valued at between 1.2 billion and 1.4 billion euros, a financial source told AFP.