Italy's Romiti family has sold out of its main investment vehicle as part of the shake-up in ownership of Rome's main airports that also sees the exit of Macquarie from one of its largest investments in the airport sector.

A deal by which Italian investors buy out the 45 per cent of the airports owned by Macquarie, the Australian bank, was expected to be announced last night in Italy and this morning in Australia. It ends a battle over investment plans that has paralysed the running of Fiumicino and Ciampino airports.