Germany’s Economic Stabilisation Fund has sold its remaining 6.2% stake in the airline – 74.4 million shares – ahead of an agreed deadline of October 2023.

The Fund had acquired its original shareholding of 20% for €306 million in summer 2020. State aid to European Union airlines is normally banned by the EU, but rules were waived during the pandemic, drawing criticism from Ryanair, which claimed unfair competition.

Lufthansa said it had already repaid all loans and deposits received from the German government ahead of schedule in November 2021.

Carsten Spohr, Lufthansa AG chief executive, said: "On behalf of all Lufthansa employees, I would like to thank the current and previous German government and all German taxpayers for their support of our Lufthansa during the most severe financial crisis in our company’s history. 

“The stabilisation of Lufthansa was successful and is also paying off financially for the German government and thus for the taxpayer. Lufthansa is once again fully in private hands."