By Mohamed Attia
Star Alliance has approved the future membership of Italy’s national carrier, ITA Airways, marking a significant step in the airline’s global expansion plans. The move comes after ITA Airways officially joined the Lufthansa Group earlier this year, paving the way for its anticipated entry into the world’s largest airline alliance.
Theo Panagiotoulias, CEO of Star Alliance, expressed confidence in the value ITA Airways will bring to the network. “We expect ITA Airways to become a full member of Star Alliance by early 2026,” he said. “With its strategic hubs in Italy, the airline will strengthen our global network and offer a more seamless travel experience to passengers around the world.”
From ITA Airways’ side, CEO Jörg Eberhart described the alliance membership as a major milestone. “We are proud to join the Star Alliance network and bring the excellence of ‘Made in Italy’ to the world’s largest airline alliance,” he said. “This step expands our global reach and growth potential, while offering our customers exceptional benefits within an unrivalled global network.”
Once integrated, ITA Airways is expected to add around 360 daily flights to the alliance, boosting Star Alliance’s presence in Europe through operations from its main hubs in Rome and Milan. These airports already serve 16 Star Alliance member airlines.
Lufthansa Group’s Chief Commercial Officer, Dieter Vranckx, welcomed the development, noting that ITA Airways will become the group’s fifth hub airline within Star Alliance. “We are committed to ensuring a smooth and swift integration process, expanding travel options for alliance customers. ITA Airways will undoubtedly be a valuable addition to the Star Alliance family.”
Upon completion of the integration, Star Alliance will grow to 26 member airlines, offering more than 18,000 daily flights across 192 countries, reinforcing its position as the world’s largest airline network.
