[ITA Exits SkyTeam] ITA Airways Will Join Lufthansa Group, Star Alliance

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Update 2/3/25: ITA has left the SkyTeam alliance, which triggers a process that will conclude by 4/30. They will join the Star Alliance early next year. If you want to redeem for travel on ITA, such as with Virgin Atlantic miles, you’ll want to do that sooner rather than later.


Originally posted 7/3/24.

ITA Airways launched service in October 2021 after former Italian flag carrier Alitalia imploded.

I status matched to top-tier ITA elite status 2 years ago, and they keep sending me new top-tier elite membership cards. While the airline was ostensibly part of Skyteam, it was never fully integrated or accepted by other Skyteam carriers. There’s a reason Skyteam is a 3rd tier alliance…

Lufthansa has now 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. It will pay 325 million Euros this year for 41% of ITA and will purchase the rest of the airline next year. Following that, ITA will be the 5th Lufthansa Group network carrier, after Austrian, Brussels, Lufthansa, and Swiss. Rome will become the group’s 6th hub airport, after Brussels, Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, and Zurich.

ITA will adopt Miles & More as its mileage currency and will aim to join the Star Alliance. That should open up some great redemption options in the future!

But in the meantime, burn those Virgin Atlantic points if you were hoping to use them for an Italian vacation:

 

What do you think of Lufthansa buying ITA?

HT: UKinNYS, via DDF

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11 Comments On "[ITA Exits SkyTeam] ITA Airways Will Join Lufthansa Group, Star Alliance"

All opinions expressed below are user generated and the opinions aren’t provided, reviewed or endorsed by any advertiser or DansDeals.

Israeli

You forgot eurowings

Jeff

Alitalia’s seating used to be the pits (small seat pitch/crammed feeling). Has ITA changed that?

Hayim

Sadly not.

CH

Amazing! Plus points viable? Finally a great option for Star Alliance late flight out of Italy.

Joseph

When do you think we can start using star alliance points to redeem on ITA?

Jaysu

Booked ITA award on Virgin for a great price unmatched by other programs. Virgin allows transfering to members for a fixed $15 fee, so members can transfer Amex to virgin and then transfere Virgin to other Virgin members.

Question: what is sufficient mimimum connection time FCO to TLV and TLV to FCO? Would 2 hours be enough?

Yr

If not checking luggage you should be good

Chuck Lowenstein

As pointed out, ITA was never really an accepted SkyTeam member. Whenever you went to book on them, there was a prominent message that Medallion Benefits do not apply.

Ari

So the question remains, will our ITA status translate to proper Star alliance status…

TM

Any news on EL AL joining or taking any step closer to skyteam?

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