Starting April 1, ITA Airways will be connected to the Alliance’s global network, linking its Rome Fiumicino hub and Milan Linate airport.
Star Alliance welcomed ITA Airways as its newest member, completing the Italian carrier’s integration into the airline alliance. ITA Airways marked its entry into the Alliance during a ceremony at the Piazza di Spagna Lounge, Rome Fiumicino Airport Terminal 3.
The event was attended by ITA Airways Chief Executive Officer and General Manager Joerg Eberhart, Star Alliance Chief Executive Officer Theo Panagiotoulias, and Lufthansa Group Chief Commercial Officer Dieter Vranckx, along with media and institutional guests.
ITA Airways will be connected to the Alliance’s global network, linking its Rome Fiumicino hub and Milan Linate airport, both served by 17 Star Alliance members, with more than 1,150 destinations worldwide.
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Customers travelling across the network can now use through check-in, reciprocal frequent flyer recognition and access Star Alliance lounges, creating a more consistent customer experience in and out of Italy.
Celebrating the milestone, Star Alliance Chief Executive Officer, Theo Panagiotoulias, said, “On behalf of our members, I am delighted to welcome ITA Airways as the 26th member of Star Alliance.”
Panagiotoulias added, “This is the result of a focused and collaborative integration effort. With ITA Airways on board, we not only expand our network to and from Italy, but also elevate the connected experience of our customers when travelling across multiple airlines, through access to the world’s largest network of airport lounges, more comprehensive loyalty benefits, and other benefits like baggage tracking – all designed to enhance the journey at every step.”
Joerg Eberhart, CEO and General Manager of ITA Airways, said: “Joining Star Alliance marks a historic milestone for ITA Airways and a defining step in our growth. By becoming part of the world’s largest and most established global airline network, we significantly expand our international reach while offering our passengers a more seamless, consistent and high-quality travel experience, with access to over 1,150 destinations worldwide, smoother connections, integrated services and a stronger premium proposition.”
Eberhart added, “At the same time, we enter Star Alliance bringing with us our distinctive Italian identity, enriching the Alliance and reinforcing ITA Airways’ role in connecting Italy with the world, combining global standards of excellence with the warmth and elegance that define the Italian way of flying.”
The Lufthansa Group has mentored ITA Airways’ induction into the Alliance, and teams across the group’s airlines have worked on an integration programme over the last several months.
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ITA Airways, which flies over 16 million customers every year, adds more than 350 daily flights to the Alliance network, supported by a domestic and regional footprint. This addition increases travel options across Italy and Europe and changes connectivity between Southern Europe and some international markets.
As part of its membership, eligible customers can access priority services, lounges across the Alliance network, and reciprocal recognition with the Alliance’s frequent flyer programmes, including earning and redeeming miles. Star Alliance Gold customers can also access ITA Airways lounges in Rome, Milan and Catania.
With the addition of ITA Airways, Star Alliance now has 26 member airlines, operating more than 17,500 daily flights across a global network in over 190 countries.
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