ITA Airways leaves SkyTeam! Redeem your Virgin Atlantic miles now before the April 30th deadline. The former Alitalia successor, launched in 2021, joins Star Alliance in 2025. While boasting SkyTeam membership, integration remained patchy.
Lufthansa's acquisition, approved by the EU, marks a new era for ITA, despite slot concessions in Milan and Rome.
Italian Airways, a new player in the aviation industry, has recently launched its services after Alitalia's collapse. The airline is now part of SkyTeam, but it was never fully integrated or accepted by other carriers. However, Lufthansa has received EU permission to buy the airline in exchange for divesting of some short-haul slots in Milan/Lin and additional competitor flights from Rome to European hubs.
This acquisition will make Italian Airways the 5th Lufthansa Group network carrier and Rome the group's 6th hub airport. Additionally, Italian Airways will adopt Miles & More as its loyalty program, further strengthening its ties with Lufthansa. With this acquisition, Lufthansa is expanding its reach in Europe and creating new opportunities for travelers to explore the region.
