Lufthansa Group and ITA Airways enhance intercontinental connectivity with a significant expansion of their codeshare agreement, providing travelers with new long-haul destinations across Africa, Asia, and South America. Starting July 1, 2025, ITA Airways will place its AZ code on a set of intercontinental flights operated by Lufthansa Group carriers, further strengthening the alliance between the two European giants.
This development follows the earlier launch of European codeshare routes in March and marks a key milestone in ITA Airways’ ongoing integration into the Lufthansa Group. Through this collaboration, passengers can book seamless itineraries with a single ticket, enjoy enhanced baggage handling, and experience easier transfers between airlines, all ensuring a more convenient and efficient travel experience.
New Intercontinental Routes for ITA Airways
With the updated codeshare agreement, ITA Airways will expand its reach to several key African cities via Lufthansa Group’s Brussels hub. These include:
| City | Airport Code | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Nairobi | NBO | Kenya |
| Abidjan | ABJ | Ivory Coast |
| Douala | DLA | Cameroon |
| Freetown | FNA | Sierra Leone |
| Monrovia | ROB | Liberia |
| Ouagadougou | OUA | Burkina Faso |
All these flights will soon be available for booking with ITA Airways flight numbers, offering customers a broader international network while maintaining the convenience and perks of traveling with a single airline.
Enhanced Access to ITA’s Global Network
In return, Lufthansa Group customers will gain access to key destinations served by ITA Airways across Asia and South America. These include:
- Bangkok (BKK), Thailand
- Jeddah (JED) and Riyadh (RUH), Saudi Arabia
- Cairo (CAI), Egypt
- Rio de Janeiro (GIG) and São Paulo (GRU), Brazil
This reciprocal agreement allows both carriers to offer passengers significantly more destination choices without the need to switch airline alliances. It also highlights the growing alignment between ITA Airways and the Lufthansa Group following the broader partnership announcement earlier in 2025.
Next Steps in the ITA–Lufthansa Partnership
The agreement is more than a simple route-sharing deal; it represents a strategic effort to solidify ITA Airways’ role within the Lufthansa Group. According to Joerg Eberhart, ITA Airways’ CEO and General Director, “Through the implementation of new codeshare flights on intercontinental routes with Lufthansa Group airlines, ITA Airways further strengthens its global presence.”
He added that this next phase is “another important milestone in the integration of our airline within the Lufthansa Group — the fourth largest globally and the leading airline group in Europe — allowing us to achieve increasingly significant results and ensure the sustainable growth of ITA Airways.”
Looking ahead, both companies plan to further expand their codeshare coverage, with additional long-haul destinations expected to be announced in the coming months. This continuing evolution signals a robust future for the partnership, aiming to rival other major airline alliances in scope and efficiency.
Benefits for Travelers
For travelers flying with ITA Airways or Lufthansa Group airlines, the new codeshare agreement means:
- Access to a larger combined route network
- Streamlined bookings with single-ticket itineraries
- Coordinated baggage handling across carriers
- Shorter transfer times and aligned schedules
- Seamless connectivity between Europe and long-haul destinations
These improvements particularly benefit business travelers, international tourists, and diaspora communities traveling between Europe and emerging markets in Africa and Latin America.
As of July 1, passengers can expect easier access to cities like Nairobi, Abidjan, Bangkok, and São Paulo — all with one booking, one boarding pass, and one trusted airline group behind the journey.
