Shereen Shabnam

Star Alliance has further expanded its global footprint with the official induction of Italy’s national carrier, ITA Airways, as its 26th member, marking a significant milestone in the alliance’s continued growth and connectivity strategy.

The integration, formally announced during a ceremony at Rome Fiumicino Airport, underscores the alliance’s commitment to strengthening its European network while enhancing seamless travel across international markets. With ITA Airways now fully embedded within the alliance, key hubs including Rome Fiumicino and Milan Linate are directly connected to a global network of more than 1,150 destinations, served collectively by Star Alliance member airlines.

From a strategic perspective, the move reinforces Star Alliance’s position as the world’s largest airline network, while offering tangible benefits to both customers and partners. Travellers can now access a more integrated experience, including through check-in, coordinated flight connections, expanded lounge access and enhanced loyalty programme interoperability as these are key differentiators in an increasingly competitive aviation landscape.

Leadership from across the alliance and its key stakeholders emphasised the importance of the integration as both a network expansion and a value-driven partnership. Theo Panagiotoulias highlighted the collaborative effort behind the onboarding process, noting that ITA Airways’ inclusion strengthens connectivity to and from Italy while elevating the overall customer journey. Meanwhile, Joerg Eberhart described the move as a defining step in the airline’s growth trajectory, positioning the carrier within a global ecosystem that enhances reach, service consistency and premium offering.

The integration has been supported by the Lufthansa Group, which played a key mentoring role throughout the process. Dieter Vranckx noted that the collaboration unlocks a broader value proposition across the alliance, benefiting customers, partners and the wider aviation ecosystem.

Operationally, ITA Airways contributes more than 350 daily flights and serves over 16 million passengers annually, significantly enhancing connectivity across Italy, Europe and key global routes. The addition also strengthens Southern Europe’s role as a strategic gateway within the alliance’s network.

With ITA Airways now onboard, Star Alliance comprises 26 member airlines, offering more than 17,500 daily flights across over 190 countries. The development not only expands geographic reach but also signals a continued focus on integrated, customer-centric travel solutions in a rapidly evolving global aviation market.