In a move surprising exactly no one, ITA Airways has formally joined Star Alliance.
ITA Airways marked its entry into the Alliance during a ceremony held at the Piazza di Spagna Lounge, Rome Fiumicino Airport Terminal 3.
The ceremony was presided over by ITA Airways Chief Executive Officer and General Manager Joerg Eberhart, Star Alliance Chief Executive Officer Theo Panagiotoulias, and Lufthansa Group Chief Commercial Officer Dieter Vranckx, in the presence of media and institutional guests.
Left – Star Alliance Chief Executive Officer Theo Panagiotoulias, Right – Chief Executive Officer and General Manager Joerg Eberhart, ITA Airways – Image, Star Alliance
Starting April 1 2026, ITA Airways will be integrated into the Star Alliance’s global network, linking its Rome Fiumicino hub and Milan Linate airport hubs, served by 17 Star Alliance members collectively, with more than 1,150 destinations worldwide.
As part of its membership, eligible customers can enjoy priority services, lounge access across the Alliance network, and reciprocal frequent flyer programme recognition, including earning and redeeming miles. Star Alliance Gold customers will also have access to ITA Airways lounges in Rome, Milan and Catania.
Passengers travelling across the network can now benefit from through check-in, reciprocal frequent flyer recognition and access to Star Alliance lounges, creating a more seamless customer experience, in and out of Italy.
ITA Airways’ induction into the Alliance has been mentored by the Lufthansa Group (given that the group owns 41% of the airline).
In Quotes
Star Alliance Chief Executive Officer Theo Panagiotoulias said:
“On behalf of our members, I am delighted to welcome ITA Airways as the 26th member of Star Alliance. This is the result of a focused and collaborative integration effort. With ITA Airways on board, we not only expand our network to and from Italy, but also elevate the connected experience of our customers when travelling across multiple airlines, through access to the world’s largest network of airport lounges, more comprehensive loyalty benefits, and other benefits like baggage tracking – all designed to enhance the journey at every step.”
Joerg Eberhart, CEO and General Manager of ITA Airways, said:
“Joining Star Alliance marks a historic milestone for ITA Airways and a defining step in our growth. By becoming part of the world’s largest and most established global airline network, we significantly expand our international reach while offering our passengers a more seamless, consistent and high‑quality travel experience, with access to over 1,150 destinations worldwide, smoother connections, integrated services and a stronger premium proposition. At the same time, we enter Star Alliance bringing with us our distinctive Italian identity, enriching the Alliance and reinforcing ITA Airways’ role in connecting Italy with the world, combining global standards of excellence with the warmth and elegance that define the Italian way of flying.”
Dieter Vranckx, Chief Commercial Officer of Lufthansa Group, said:
“The Star Alliance membership is only possible thanks to the strong commitment and close collaboration of dedicated teams at ITA Airways, Lufthansa Group and Star Alliance. We are pleased to introduce ITA Airways as fully fledged hub airline into the Lufthansa Group and into the Alliance, expanding options for travellers across Europe and the world. Together, ITA Airways and the Lufthansa Group, are unlocking a joint value proposition that will benefit our customers, our partners, and the Star Alliance ecosystem.”
Continued Expansion for Star Alliance
With the addition of ITA Airways, Star Alliance now comprises 26 member airlines, offering more than 17,500 daily flights across a global network spanning over 190 countries. The new member (ITA Airways) has flown over 16 million passengers in the last year.
It will add more than 350 daily flights to the Alliance network, adding Italian domestic, regional, European and international routes to the Star Alliance network.
It’s another step along ITA Airways journey, as it draws closer to the Lufthansa Group, helping provide capacity for it, as well as showing off its own character.
Remember to Match!
For those of you still on Volare, that programme is heading to closure. You’ll need to get your points out of Volare and match your status to Lufthansa Miles and More. We’ve covered this here.
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