ITA Airways has officially joined the Lufthansa Group, marking a significant shift in the European airline landscape.
This new partnership unlocks expanded benefits for travelers, including a major loyalty program collaboration, improved airport transfers, and increased global connectivity.
At a press conference in Rome Fiumicino, Sandro Pappalardo, Chairman of ITA Airways, along with Joerg Eberhart, CEO of ITA Airways, and Carsten Spohr, CEO of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, outlined the first commercial initiatives following the airline’s transition.
A key announcement was the integration of ITA Airways’ Volare loyalty program with Lufthansa Group’s Miles & More. This move grants Volare’s 2.7 million members the ability to earn and redeem points on flights operated by Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, and Brussels Airlines. Likewise, Miles & More’s 36 million members will now gain the same privileges on ITA Airways flights.
Starting with the IATA summer season on March 30, 2025, passengers will see more enhancements, including:
- 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 ITA Airways 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, ITA Airways 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 ITA Airways passengers with access to around 250 destinations, while Lufthansa Group customers will find it easier to reach destinations served by ITA Airways’ network.
- Harmonized 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.
Another major milestone was ITA Airways’ announcement of its official exit from the SkyTeam alliance. The transition period, set to conclude on April 30, 2025, ensures continued service continuity for passengers.
While the airline will maintain some existing bilateral agreements with former SkyTeam partners, it is now preparing for the next step—joining Star Alliance by early 2026.
With ITA Airways now firmly integrated into the Lufthansa Group, passengers can look forward to a more connected and convenient travel experience across Europe and beyond.
