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ITA Airways Departs SkyTeam and Moves Toward Star Alliance

For the first time since 2001, an Italian flag carrier will no longer be part of SkyTeam

by Enrique Perrella

February 3, 2025

Photo: Courtesy of Airbus SAS

ITA Airways has officially exited SkyTeam, marking a major shift in its global partnerships as it prepares to join Star Alliance under Lufthansa’s guidance.

While the transition will take time, the airline’s departure from SkyTeam signals the end of an era for Italy’s national carrier and the beginning of a new chapter in its global strategy.

So, what does this mean for travelers, frequent flyers, and ITA Airways’ future? Here’s everything you need to know.

The Transition Period

Although ITA’s departure from SkyTeam took effect today, travelers will have a grace period before all ties are severed. Until April 30, 2025, most existing benefits for SkyTeam passengers flying with ITA Airways will remain in effect.

“SkyTeam, its member airlines, and ITA Airways are working closely together to ensure a smooth transition for customers and partners during the exit phase, which concludes by April 30, 2025,” SkyTeam said in a statement.

During this transition period, frequent flyers can still access many SkyTeam perks, including Elite and Elite Plus benefits, SkyPriority services, and lounge access.

However, SkyTeam advises travelers to check directly with their airlines for the latest details regarding mileage accrual and redemption.

Also, even though ITA Airways maintains bilateral frequent flyer agreements with several SkyTeam members—including Delta, Air France, KLM, and Korean Air—SkyTeam warns that “these could change in the coming months.”

Why Is ITA Leaving SkyTeam?

The Italian airline’s departure from SkyTeam is directly linked to its new ownership structure. In January 2025, Lufthansa finalized its first investment phase in ITA Airways, transferring €325 million ($353 million) to acquire a 41 percent stake in the airline.

The deal, which is expected to eventually lead to Lufthansa taking full control, positions ITA for full integration into the Lufthansa Group and its global network.

Photo: Courtesy of Lufthansa

As a result, ITA is now shifting alliances to Star Alliance, where it will align with Lufthansa’s partners, including United Airlines, Air Canada, SWISS, and Austrian Airlines—all of which operate across the Atlantic between Europe and North America.

The transition to Star Alliance is expected to be completed in the first half of 2026.

New Benefits for Travelers

Ahead of ITA’s full integration into Star Alliance, passengers will begin to see immediate benefits from its growing ties with the Lufthansa Group.

Miles & More members can now earn and redeem miles on all ITA Airways flights, while ITA’s Volare members can earn and redeem points on flights operated by Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, and Brussels Airlines.

Photo: Lufthansa, Airbus A320neo. Courtesy of Lufthansa

Starting March 30, 2025, ITA Airways passengers eligible for lounge access will be able to visit around 130 Lufthansa Group and partner lounges worldwide. In turn, Lufthansa Group customers will gain access to ITA Airways lounges.

On the same date, ITA will co-locate with Lufthansa at Frankfurt’s Terminal 1 and Munich’s Terminal 2, reducing connection times and improving transfer efficiency. This move aligns ITA Airways with Lufthansa Group hub operations, which are already in place at Rome Fiumicino and Milan Linate.

Additionally, ITA and Lufthansa Group airlines will launch codeshares on an initial 100 routes, with bookings available from February 25. Once fully implemented, ITA Airways passengers will gain access to over 250 destinations within the Lufthansa Group network.

Lufthansa will also coordinate flight schedules between its key hubs—Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Vienna, and Brussels—and ITA’s bases in Rome and Milan to optimize connections and improve travel flexibility.

“Now that ITA Airways has recently joined our airline family, we aim to accelerate the merger process,” says Lufthansa Group CEO Carsten Spohr.

Photo: Lufthansa Group’s CEO, Carsten Spohr. Courtesy of Oliver Roesler / Lufthansa.

The German CEO emphasizes that by expediting the merger, “ITA and its passengers, along with the customers of our other airlines, will quickly benefit from the advantages of a larger Lufthansa Group.”

Spohr also expressed confidence that ITA Airways could achieve profitability as early as this year, which would be significant for the Italian carrier, especially considering that both ITA and its predecessor, Alitalia, have not been profitable for over a decade.

“Overall, we believe that the start of the integration of ITA Airways into the Lufthansa Group marks the beginning of a successful partnership for the customers, employees, and shareholders of both ITA Airways and the Lufthansa Group,” Spohr stated.

End of an Era: Italy and SkyTeam

The departure of ITA Airways marks the end of an Italian flag carrier’s presence in the SkyTeam alliance. Its predecessor, Alitalia, had been a member of SkyTeam since 2001, playing a crucial role in the alliance’s transatlantic market, particularly through a joint venture with Delta, Air France, and KLM.

Photo: Courtesy of Airbus SAS

For over two decades, Alitalia—and later ITA Airways—served as SkyTeam’s main partner in Italy. With ITA’s exit, SkyTeam loses its presence in the country, allowing competitors like Lufthansa and its Star Alliance partners to strengthen their foothold in the Italian market.

What’s Next?

With Lufthansa now in control of ITA Airways, significant changes are expected in its operations, network, and partnerships. Analysts predict that the airline will expand its long-haul services to North America, South America and Asia while optimizing its European routes to align with Lufthansa’s broader network.

Photo: Courtesy of Airbus SAS

As part of the Lufthansa Group, ITA Airways will gain access to the benefits of Star Alliance, including seamless connections through Lufthansa’s hubs in Frankfurt and Munich, as well as stronger partnerships with United Airlines and Air Canada for transatlantic travel to North America.

While the full transition to Star Alliance will take time, the process is already underway. For travelers, this means adapting to new loyalty program rules, potential changes in partner airline benefits, and a redefined role for ITA Airways in global aviation.

As far as the airline industry is concerned, alliance swaps continue to make headlines. Recently, we witnessed the unprecedented move of Scandinavian Airlines (SAS)—a founding member of Star Alliance—to SkyTeam. Now, a long-time member of SkyTeam is transitioning to Star Alliance. These changes illustrate the fluid and rapidly evolving nature of the commercial aviation industry.

Photo: Courtesy of Star Alliance

With Lufthansa’s support, ITA Airways has a stronger financial foundation and a clearer path to long-term stability—something that its troubled predecessor, Alitalia, never fully achieved.

For now, travelers should be aware of the transition period and monitor how ITA Airways integrates into Star Alliance. Although some benefits may temporarily be in flux, the airline’s future as part of Lufthansa’s network could lead to a more stable and competitive Italian flag carrier on the global stage.