Airline trust profile
ITA Airways AZ
Star Alliance · Hub: Rome Fiumicino
At a glance
Key facts about this carrier
ITA Airways (AZ) is Italy's flag carrier and joined Star Alliance in April 2026 following its acquisition by the Lufthansa Group.
- Joined Star Alliance in April 2026 after Lufthansa Group completed its acquisition.
- Hub at Rome Fiumicino (FCO) with a secondary base at Milan Linate.
- Successor to Alitalia, launched in October 2021 as a restructured state-owned carrier.
- Now integrated into the Lufthansa Group alongside Swiss, Austrian, Brussels Airlines, and Eurowings.
Why this tier
ITA Airways is Italy's flag carrier operating 109 aircraft from Rome Fiumicino, having exited SkyTeam in April 2025 and joined Star Alliance in April 2026 as part of Lufthansa Group integration. The airline carried 16.2 million passengers in 2025 with an 83.4% load factor and EUR 2.8 billion in passenger revenue.
Strengths
- Rome FCO hub provides strong positioning for Mediterranean, North Africa, and Middle East connections
- Star Alliance membership (from April 2026) and Lufthansa Group backing add extensive codeshare and interline options
- Fleet modernization underway with A330-900neo and A350-900 deliveries, plus A220 for short-haul
- 17 new long-haul routes planned for 2026-2030 including Mumbai, Singapore, and additional US cities
Watch-outs
- Alliance transition (SkyTeam to Star Alliance) may cause loyalty program disruption for existing SkyTeam frequent flyers
- A330-900neo deliveries delayed from late 2025 to late 2026, limiting near-term widebody capacity
- Legacy operational challenges inherited from Alitalia still being resolved
Best used for
- Europe–Asia long-haul
- Premium long-haul
Consultant intelligence
Operational notes
Hub and Connections
FCO (Rome Fiumicino) is the primary hub. LIN (Milan Linate) is a focus city for domestic and short-haul European routes. MCT at FCO is 75 minutes for international connections. ITA joined Star Alliance in April 2026 through the Lufthansa Group acquisition. Star Alliance partner connections at FCO. Secondary connections via MXP (Milan Malpensa) for some intercontinental routes.
Baggage
Bags check through on Star Alliance itineraries (since April 2026 alliance switch). Economy Light fares do not include checked bags. Interline baggage agreements being expanded under Star Alliance/Lufthansa Group. Previous SkyTeam interline agreements phased out. Codeshare with Lufthansa, Swiss, and Austrian on European routes.
Terminal Notes
FCO Terminal 1 for domestic and Schengen ITA flights. FCO Terminal 3 for international long-haul. LIN main terminal for all ITA domestic/European operations. ITA lounges at FCO T1 and T3, plus access to Lufthansa Group partner lounges. FCO can be congested and is undergoing terminal improvements.
Operational Notes
Italian ATC strikes occur several times per year, typically on Fridays, with minimum service guaranteed. FCO can experience ground handling delays during peak summer. ITA replaced Alitalia in October 2021 with a smaller fleet and network. Lufthansa completed its acquisition in 2024 and is integrating ITA into its network. Fleet modernization is underway with new A320neo and A330neo deliveries.
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