Italian flag carrier ITA Airways is now part of the German-owned Lufthansa Group, making it the Group’s fifth network airline. Here is what passengers can expect right now and in the months to come.
From 3 February 2025, members of ITA Airways’ frequent flyer program Volare and Lufthansa Group’s Miles & More can earn and redeem points or miles, respectively, across ITA Airways, Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines.
Effective immediately, ITA Airways has exited the SkyTeam Alliance, winding up a gradual process by 30 April 2025. The carrier’s admission to Star Alliance is already underway and planned for the first half of 2026.
From 30 March 2025, the start of the Northern Hemisphere summer flight schedule will introduce more changes, including new terminals, mutual lounge access and codeshares.
The Italian carrier will move to Terminal 1 in Frankfurt and Terminal 2 in Munich, uniting under the same roof to ensure seamless transfers within the Lufthansa Group’s hubs.
ITA Airways passengers will also enjoy access to 130 lounges operated by the Lufthansa Group and vice versa.
In a statement on both websites, the airlines noted that the addition of ITA Airways flights to the Lufthansa Group’s route networks will provide passengers with more choice and flexibility.
From the start of the summer schedule, more than 100 flight connections will be codeshares and easily combined into a single booking for passengers.
Once fully implemented, ITA Airways passengers will have access to more than 250 destinations within the Lufthansa Group and Lufthansa Group’s offer will expand to include the Italian flag carrier’s domestic flights to Sicily, Sardinia, Calabria and Puglia.
Italy is currently the fourth-largest European market for air travel and the union will ensure better connections to Italy.
All codeshare connections can be booked from 25 February 2025 through all global sales channels, including online and via both airline apps.
Lufthansa Group was approved to acquire 41 per cent of ITA Airways in a €325 million purchase (around AUD$539.3 million) in July 2024, cementing its place as one of the world’s largest aviation groups.
The remaining 59 per cent will initially continue to be held by the Italian Ministry of Economy & Finance.
