ITA Airways has commenced its integration into the Lufthansa Group. The airline has also exited SkyTeam alliance. This comes after the Lufthansa Group purchased a 41% stake in the airline.
ITA Airways
The Lufthansa Group has purchased a 41% stake in ITA Airways. The transaction closed in January 2025, marking the official entry of the Italian flag carrier into the Lufthansa Group. At a press conference, the airline presented the first commercial initiatives resulting from the synergies between the Italian carrier and the Group, to the benefit of passengers.
During the event, a new partnership between ITA Airways’ loyalty program Volare and Lufthansa Group’s Miles & More was announced. This collaboration allows the 2.7 million Volare members to earn and redeem points on flights operated by Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, and Brussels Airlines. Similarly, the 36 million Miles & More members can now earn and redeem points on ITA Airways flights.
I am pleased to attend ITA Airways’ first press conference as Chairman. This role is a great responsibility for me, and even after just a few days, I have gained a deeper understanding of the importance of this position and the challenges we will face moving forward, in a climate of total and deep collaboration with the Lufthansa Group. I am confident that the airline will soon achieve its goals and offer passengers and the country greater connectivity and recognition worldwide.
Sandro Pappalardo, Chairman of ITA Airways said.
During the 2025 IATA summer season, starting on 30th March 2025, additional benefits will be available to passengers which include:
- Lounge Access: ITA Airways passengers will have access to approximately 130 Lufthansa Group lounges on their travels, while Lufthansa Group passengers will be able to use the carrier’s lounges.
- Terminals at Frankfurt and Munich Airports: ITA Airways will move its operations to Lufthansa Group terminals at both German hubs, making transfers for passengers easier and faster. At other Lufthansa Group hubs, the Italian airline already offers its flights in the same terminal areas where Lufthansa Group airlines are handled.
- Codesharing: Codeshare agreements will be introduced between ITA Airways and Lufthansa Group carriers. This synergy will allow passengers to combine flights operated by multiple Group carriers, providing the carrier’s passengers with access to around 250 destinations, while Lufthansa Group customers will find it easier to reach destinations served by ITA Airways’ network.
- Harmonised Connections: Flights between Lufthansa Group hubs (Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Vienna, and Brussels) and ITA Airways’ primary airports (Rome Fiumicino and Milan Linate) will see harmonized frequencies and schedules, offering passengers a broader choice and shorter
connections between flights.
Today we are announcing the first commercial initiatives dedicated to our passengers, who will begin benefiting from synergies with the Lufthansa Group. Starting today with the partnership between Volare and Miles & More, we will continue in the coming months with additional benefits such as lounges access and codeshare flights. Customers flying with ITA Airways will now have access to exclusive advantages and an even more complete flying experience. We have also finalized another historic step for ITA Airways: we have exited the SkyTeam alliance and will soon begin the process of joining Star Alliance. But this is just the beginning – we will continue to work to seize further growth opportunities and offer our customers new benefits in the coming weeks.
Joerg Eberhart, CEO, ITA Airways said.
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SkyTeam exit
With the start of the airline;s integration into the Lufthansa Group, the airline has exited the SkyTeam alliance with immediate effect, just after three years after it became a member.
The exit phase will end on 30th April 2025 and the process has been designed to ensure a structured and efficient process, prioritizing continuity in dedicated customer services, according to the airline. The Rome-based carrier will continue to collaborate with selected SkyTeam member airlines through existing bilateral agreements, maintaining the benefits available to its customers.
In the coming weeks, it will begin the process of joining Star Alliance, the world’s largest global aviation alliance, with completion expected by early 2026.
Featured image by Lufthansa Group
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