ITA Airways will officially join the Star Alliance from early 2026, after the airline received approval to start its integration process into the alliance on April 2, 2025.
Star Alliance chief executive officer Theo Panagiotoulias stated: “The decision by our [chief executive board] underscores the strong confidence our members have in ITA Airways.”
When officially introduced, ITA will add 360 daily flights to the alliance network, further strengthening its footprint in Europe. The biggest growth will come from its home cities, especially Rome and Milan, which are currently served by 16 Star Alliance members collectively.
After the airline is inducted, the Star Alliance network will grow to 26 member airlines, offering over 18,000 daily flights connecting 192 countries.
This announcement follows the Italian carrier's recent introduction into the Lufthansa Group, which was finalised in January.
The Lufthansa Group closed its €325 million deal to acquire a 41% stake in ITA Airways in January. The Italian airline is now officially part of the Lufthansa Group, becoming the group's fifth network airline.