ITA Airways Bolts to Star Alliance in 2026 Shakeup

Key Takeaways

• ITA Airways joins Star Alliance by early 2026, exiting SkyTeam between February and April 2025.
• Integration adds 360 daily flights, better Italian and European connections, and Miles & More loyalty benefits.
• Lufthansa Group owns 41% of ITA Airways and mentors airline through technical and operational transition.

ITA Airways, the national airline of Italy 🇮🇹, has taken a major step forward in the airline industry by receiving approval to join Star Alliance, one of the world’s largest airline groups. The full integration is set to happen in early 2026, marking a big change for both ITA Airways and the global airline scene. This article explores what this move means, how it affects travelers, and why its timing and details matter.

ITA Airways and Its Journey to Star Alliance

ITA Airways is known as Italy’s main flag carrier, responsible for connecting the country with the rest of the world. After years of changes in ownership and operations, ITA Airways is now set to grow with the support of Lufthansa Group, which has acquired a 41% stake in the airline. This partnership is key because Lufthansa Group is already a major part of Star Alliance. With their guidance, ITA Airways will exit the SkyTeam alliance and enter Star Alliance, starting a new chapter in its history.

The switch will not happen overnight. ITA Airways will officially leave SkyTeam between February and April 2025 and finish all integration steps needed to become a Star Alliance member by early or mid-2026. During this process, Lufthansa Group will act as a mentor, helping ITA Airways adopt new systems and align its frequent flyer programs with the rest of the alliance.

Understanding Star Alliance and Its Membership

Star Alliance is a collection of different airlines worldwide that work together to offer better service, more connections, and shared benefits to travelers. When ITA Airways joins, Star Alliance will have 26 member airlines, serving more than 18,000 daily flights and connecting 192 countries.

This big group helps travelers enjoy smoother journeys by allowing easy transfers, more travel options, and shared perks like airport lounges and frequent flyer rewards. By joining Star Alliance in 2026, ITA Airways will help the alliance grow even bigger, offering better links across Europe and the world.

What Will Change for Travelers?

The integration of ITA Airways into Star Alliance is not just a corporate move—it also has many direct effects for international travelers, frequent flyers, and people visiting or leaving Italy 🇮🇹. Here are some important changes coming with ITA Airways’ move:

1. More Daily Flights and Better Connections

Once ITA Airways joins, Star Alliance will add about 360 new daily flights. These flights will mostly go through ITA Airways’ main hubs: Rome (FCO) and Milan airports (MXP and LIN). These busy airports already handle many international flights, but will now become even more important gateways, especially for travelers moving between Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

With these extra flights, travelers will have:
– More direct routes in and out of Italy 🇮🇹
– Easier transfers between Star Alliance partners
– Shorter layovers when traveling long distances

This change is good news for people visiting Italy 🇮🇹 for business or holidays, as well as for Italians living abroad who want more travel options.

2. Stronger Italian Presence in Global Travel

While ITA Airways was already connecting many international destinations as part of SkyTeam, being part of Star Alliance in 2026 will help the airline:
– Expand its reach throughout Europe
– Attract more global travelers through Italy 🇮🇹
– Offer easier connections to places not previously available through SkyTeam

Rome and Milan will become even more important entry points for visitors. This could also help Italy 🇮🇹 attract more tourists and business investments, as it will be easier for people to fly in and out of the country.

3. Changes to Frequent Flyer Benefits

Frequent flyers are often most concerned with what happens to their miles and benefits during alliance changes. When ITA Airways leaves SkyTeam and joins Star Alliance:
– Customers will stop earning and using SkyTeam points on ITA Airways flights after early 2025
– Once ITA Airways fully joins Star Alliance, passengers will earn and use Miles & More points, which is the main loyalty program used by other Star Alliance airlines like Lufthansa
– Travelers will also get other Star Alliance perks, such as access to more airport lounges, priority check-in, and better baggage handling

Theo Panagiotoulias, CEO of Star Alliance, said, “As a gateway for Italy, [ITA] strengthens our global network… offering seamless journeys to more travelers worldwide.” This statement highlights the shared commitment to making flying smoother for customers.

4. Growing the Star Alliance Family

Star Alliance is not just becoming bigger in number, but also in the quality of service it can offer. Adding ITA Airways as the 26th member means the alliance will have even better coverage in Southern Europe, a region famous for both tourism and strong business links. Travelers using Star Alliance partners will now easily access more Italian cities and regions through ITA Airways flights, either directly or using connecting flights.

With the alliance network covering 192 countries and more than 18,000 flights every day, travelers get flexibility and choice when planning trips. Dieter Vranckx, Lufthansa Group’s CCO, said, “We will do our utmost to ensure a smooth and swift integration. I am confident that ITA Airways will be an excellent addition…” This shows the high expectations for ITA Airways in Star Alliance.

Detailed Timeline and Process for Integration

This integration is a careful, step-by-step process, featuring many important tasks. Here’s what will happen over the next two years:

• 2024: ITA Airways and Lufthansa Group begin close work to prepare for alliance changes. Lufthansa Group mentors ITA Airways, helping align daily operations, computer systems, and customer services.
• February–April 2025: ITA Airways officially leaves the SkyTeam alliance. Customers see the end of SkyTeam loyalty program benefits on ITA Airways flights.
• Mid-2025: ITA Airways continues technical preparations, such as linking its flights to other Star Alliance airlines and training staff to follow new processes.
• Early-to-Mid 2026: ITA Airways becomes a full Star Alliance member and offers all related benefits, including earning and using Miles & More points and working together with 25 other member airlines.

This long, detailed process means there should be smooth changes for customers, with no sudden interruptions to flight schedules or rewards programs.

A Closer Look: What ITA Airways Brings to Star Alliance

ITA Airways brings a lot of value to Star Alliance, especially in these key areas:

• Unique European Hubs: Rome and Milan are among the largest and best-located airports in Europe. Their central position allows for easy connections between Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas.
• Strong Local Market: Italy 🇮🇹 itself is a top destination for both business and tourism. By making ITA Airways a Star Alliance member, the group can offer deeper access to Italian cities and regions for all customers.
• Extra Daily Flights: The 360 added daily flights expand the options available to anyone flying in or out of Europe, and especially those making stops in Italy 🇮🇹.

How Will This Affect Immigrants and People Moving Across Borders?

Migration often means needing to travel between countries to visit family, work, or study. For people who are immigrants or have family ties outside Italy 🇮🇹, the move to Star Alliance could make things easier:

• Wider Range of Routes: More flights mean better choices for itineraries, lower risk of missed connections, and maybe even cheaper prices due to competition among member airlines.
• Better Loyalty Rewards: Being part of the larger Miles & More program helps travelers earn points quickly, making it easier to book future flights or upgrades even across different Star Alliance airlines.
• Smoother International Transfers: Common systems and ticketing rules among Star Alliance members help make switching planes easier for people making long, multi-leg journeys.

These benefits may be especially important for students coming to Italy 🇮🇹, businesspeople with ongoing assignments, or families who have settled in Italy from other parts of the world.

Comparing Before and After: SkyTeam Versus Star Alliance for ITA Airways

Here’s a simple summary comparing ITA Airways’ old setup with SkyTeam and the future with Star Alliance:

As reported by VisaVerge.com, this move is expected to make travel easier and more efficient for people coming to and from Italy 🇮🇹.

Strategic Impacts and Leadership Voices

The decision to join Star Alliance has attracted messages from several top leaders in the aviation industry. Joerg Eberhart, CEO of ITA Airways, called the decision a “significant milestone in ITA Airways’ growth” and said he looked forward to giving customers the full benefits of Star Alliance.

From the Star Alliance side, CEO Theo Panagiotoulias said ITA Airways’ addition would create “seamless journeys” for travelers, reflecting a shared vision for global connections.

Lufthansa Group, which has become a key supporter and part-owner of ITA Airways, is deeply involved. Chief Commercial Officer Dieter Vranckx assured partners and customers that every effort would be made for a smooth joining process.

What Happens Next for Customers?

If you’re an ITA Airways customer or you frequently travel to or from Italy 🇮🇹, here is what to look out for:
– Watch for updates about when SkyTeam benefits end (likely by April 2025)
– When booking ITA Airways flights in late 2025 or early 2026, check whether Star Alliance perks apply
– Consider enrolling in Miles & More or another Star Alliance frequent flyer program if you want to keep earning and using points

If you are planning a long trip, moving to Italy 🇮🇹, or making regular trips for work or family, these changes could offer extra comfort, better support, and more flexibility.

Importance for the Airline Industry

This move strengthens not just ITA Airways, but Star Alliance as a whole. It offers better service to more destinations, deeper coverage of an important European market (Italy 🇮🇹), and the chance for other airlines to offer new routes in partnership.

For airlines looking to expand and for governments supporting international travel, these sorts of moves can improve major airports, bring more visitors, and increase business activity.

Where to Find More Information

If you would like more details about what Star Alliance is and what it offers, you can visit the official Star Alliance network page.

Summary

To sum up, ITA Airways is set to leave SkyTeam and fully join Star Alliance in 2026, dedicating itself to better connections, more flights, and improved loyalty rewards for its customers. Under the mentorship of Lufthansa Group, ITA Airways is expected to strengthen both its own services and those of Star Alliance members around the world. The changes will help millions of travelers, from tourists and businesspeople to immigrants and families, making it easier than ever to fly in and out of Italy 🇮🇹 and across the globe.

Learn Today

Star Alliance → A major global airline network with 26 member airlines, offering shared benefits, connections, and loyalty programs for travelers worldwide.
Miles & More → Star Alliance’s main frequent flyer program, allowing members to earn and redeem points across partner airlines and access premium perks.
SkyTeam → Another large global airline alliance from which ITA Airways will depart in 2025 to join Star Alliance.
Lufthansa Group → A leading European airline group that acquired a 41% stake in ITA Airways and supports its transition to Star Alliance.
Frequent Flyer Program → A loyalty scheme letting travelers earn rewards and benefits, such as miles, upgrades, and lounge access, for flying with partner airlines.

This Article in a Nutshell

ITA Airways, Italy’s flag carrier, will leave SkyTeam and join Star Alliance in 2026, boosting connections, loyalty benefits, and daily flights. Supported by Lufthansa’s 41% stake, this move strengthens Italy’s role in global aviation, benefiting travelers, immigrants, and business. Customers should note changes in frequent flyer programs and alliance perks.
— By VisaVerge.com

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