The integration of ITA Airways into the Lufthansa Group is already bringing tangible benefits to passengers across the globe. The Lufthansa Group’s recent participation in ITA Airways is ushering in a host of improvements that passengers can enjoy shortly after the transition. During a press conference in Rome, key leaders, including Carsten Spohr, CEO of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Sandro Pappalardo, Chairman of ITA Airways, and Joerg Eberhart, CEO of ITA Airways, unveiled the first steps of the integration, highlighting key advantages for travelers.
One immediate benefit is for the 36 million Miles & More members who can now earn and redeem miles on all ITA Airways flights. Similarly, 2.7 million Volare program members from ITA Airways can use their points on Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, and Brussels Airlines flights.
The integration extends into the summer flight schedule starting March 30, 2025, with several exciting developments:
Shared Terminals: ITA Airways will be moving into the Lufthansa Group terminals at Frankfurt and Munich airports, significantly improving transfer times. This change will align ITA Airways operations with those of Lufthansa Group at several other hubs, including Rome-Fiumicino and Milan-Linate.
Lounge Access: Starting March 30, ITA Airways passengers can access over 130 lounges from the Lufthansa Group and its partners, while Lufthansa Group passengers will have access to ITA Airways lounges.
Code Sharing: The airlines have introduced code-sharing, with over 100 flights initially sharing flight numbers, which allows for a seamless booking experience across multiple carriers. This will eventually expand to over 250 destinations within the Lufthansa Group, including domestic flights to Sicily, Sardinia, Calabria, and Puglia from ITA Airways.
Coordinated Flight Schedules: The coordination of flight schedules between Lufthansa Group’s hubs and ITA Airways’ main airports in Rome and Milan will provide better connections and reduced waiting times for passengers, offering improved flexibility and more convenient travel options.
Star Alliance Membership: ITA Airways is set to join the Star Alliance in the first half of 2026, marking a pivotal step in aligning with the Lufthansa Group’s broader benefits. This will enhance product offerings for ITA Airways passengers and align with the global standards of the alliance.
Cargo Sector Expansion: Lufthansa Cargo and ITA Airways are also intensifying their cooperation in the airfreight sector, with joint offers expected to roll out on selected routes as early as this summer.
Carsten Spohr, CEO of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, expressed confidence in the success of the merger, noting that ITA Airways and its passengers will quickly see the benefits of this expanded collaboration. Spohr also stated his belief that ITA Airways will become profitable in the near future, marking the start of a promising partnership between the two carriers.
