ITA Airways has just been given the green light to start its journey towards becoming a part of the prestigious Star Alliance, a move that was approved by the Chief Executive Board of the alliance which consists of the top executives from its 25 member airlines. The integration process of ITA Airways with the Lufthansa Group began back in February 2025, with detailed strategies being laid out to seamlessly incorporate the newly acquired Italian airline into the global operations. Exciting developments have followed suit, with Germany’s Lufthansa Group recently announcing that starting from summer 2025, all ITA Airways flights at Frankfurt and Munich airports will be managed from Lufthansa terminals.

With the latest announcement on April 2, 2025, ITA Airways expressed that the completion of the integration process marks the beginning of its journey towards joining the world’s largest airline alliance, and emphasized that the onboarding process will now be at full speed. Theo Panagiotoulias, CEO of Star Alliance, mentioned, “In early 2026, ITA Airways is expected to officially become a full member of the Star Alliance network. This decision reflects the strong trust our members have in ITA Airways. Serving as a gateway for Italy, its inclusion further fortifies our expansive global network.”

Looking ahead to the future prospects, Joerg Eberhart, the CEO and General Manager of ITA Airways, shared his enthusiasm by stating, “We are eager to provide our passengers with the exclusive benefits of the largest airline network in the world.” ITA Airways is gearing up to introduce 360 daily flights to the alliance network, with the primary surge anticipated from its main hubs in Rome and Milan, which are already linked by 16 Star Alliance members. Upon the completion of the integration process, the alliance network will encompass 26 member airlines, facilitating more than 18,000 daily flights across 192 countries. Notably, ITA Airways will be the fifth hub airline of the Lufthansa Group to enrich this alliance with its presence.

The affirmation of ITA Airways’ integration into the Star Alliance conveys promising opportunities for travelers worldwide, and signifies a significant milestone in the airline industry.