ITA Airways is taking another step toward merging with the Lufthansa Group. The strategic Europe-Japan joint venture between Lufthansa Group (LHG) and All Nippon Airways (ANA) will be expanded with the addition of ITA Airways beginning in the fall. The agreement was inked on the 7th at the IATA Annual General Meeting in Rio de Janeiro.
The Italian airline's participation in the largest joint venture between Europe and Japan will allow for greater collaboration in a variety of crucial sectors. It will include ITA Airways' European network, comprising internal routes in Italy, the Maghreb region (North Africa), and long-haul flights between Rome-Fiumicino and Tokyo-Haneda. This expands the scope of the joint venture in Italy, which now comprises ANA's service between Tokyo-Haneda and Milan-Malpensa. At the center of the arrangement is ITA Airways' hub at Rome Fiumicino Airport, from which the top Italian airline flies a daily direct trip to Tokyo Haneda. Both airports have received the highest "five-star" rating from Skytrax. Starting this fall, clients of ANA, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, and SWISS will have access to this intercontinental connection, allowing for flexible combinations with their own flights. Furthermore, the unified offering would be gradually deployed beginning in the fall of 2026. Customers will be alerted as soon as it becomes available.