The integration of ITA Airways into the Lufthansa Group has officially begun, bringing several improvements for travelers. Passengers will soon experience enhanced flight connections, smoother transfers, and expanded loyalty program benefits. The announcement was made during a press conference in Rome, where Carsten Spohr, CEO of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Sandro Pappalardo, Chairman of ITA Airways, and Joerg Eberhart, CEO of ITA Airways, shared details on the transition.
One of the immediate changes is the expansion of frequent flyer benefits. “With immediate effect, 36 million Miles & More members can earn and redeem miles on all ITA Airways flights,” the executives confirmed. Additionally, “the 2.7 million members of the ITA Airways frequent flyer program Volare can earn and redeem their points on all flights operated by Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, and Brussels Airlines.”
Terminal Relocations and Lounge Access
Starting March 30, 2025, ITA Airways will relocate to the Lufthansa Airlines terminals in Frankfurt and Munich. This move, which places ITA Airways in Terminal 1 at Frankfurt Airport and Terminal 2 at Munich Airport, will allow for more efficient transfers between flights. At other hubs, including Rome-Fiumicino and Milan-Linate, ITA Airways and Lufthansa Group airlines already operate in the same terminal areas.
Passengers will also gain expanded lounge access. “Starting 30 March, ITA Airways passengers will also be able to visit and use the approximately 130 lounges of the Lufthansa Group and its partners on their travels,” the executives announced. In return, Lufthansa Group passengers will have access to ITA Airways lounges.
Expanded Flight Connectivity and Airline Alliance Transition
The integration will also introduce a wider range of travel options. ITA Airways flights will be added to the Lufthansa Group’s network, providing passengers with more choices. “With the start of the summer flight schedule, more than 100 flight connections will initially share their flight numbers and can thus be more easily combined,” the executives explained. This code-sharing arrangement allows travelers to book multiple airlines within a single reservation, eventually giving ITA Airways passengers access to over 250 destinations. Lufthansa Group travelers will also benefit from ITA Airways’ domestic routes, particularly those to Sicily, Sardinia, Calabria, and Puglia. These codeshare flights will be available for booking starting February 25, 2025, through various sales channels, including online platforms and airline apps.
Flight schedules between the main hubs will also be optimized to improve connections. The adjusted departure times will minimize layovers and provide better access to long-haul destinations.
As part of the transition, ITA Airways has begun the process of leaving the SkyTeam alliance in preparation for joining Star Alliance, the world’s largest airline alliance. “The Italian airline’s admission to Star Alliance…is of important importance for this. Preparations have already begun,” the executives stated. ITA Airways is expected to officially join Star Alliance in the first half of 2026.
Cargo Operations and Future Outlook
Beyond passenger services, ITA Airways and Lufthansa Cargo will strengthen their partnership in the airfreight sector. Joint cargo services will be available on select routes as early as summer 2025, allowing for improved logistics solutions.
Carsten Spohr expressed confidence in the success of this integration. “Now that ITA Airways has become a member of our airline family a few days ago, we want to push ahead with the merger quickly, so that ITA and its passengers, as well as the guests of our other passenger airlines, can quickly benefit from the advantages of an expanded Lufthansa Group. We are also confident that ITA Airways will realize a profit as early as this year. All in all, we are convinced that today, the start of the integration of ITA Airways into the Lufthansa Group, marks the beginning of a joint success story for customers, employees and shareholders of ITA Airways and the Lufthansa Group.”
With loyalty program benefits already in place, terminal relocations planned, and flight connectivity improvements on the way, the integration of ITA Airways into the Lufthansa Group is progressing rapidly. The transition is set to bring greater convenience and flexibility to passengers while expanding Lufthansa Group’s reach in the market.
