ITA Airways will join the Europe-Japan joint venture operated by Lufthansa Group and All Nippon Airways (ANA), expanding the partnership to five airlines from autumn 2026.
The agreement was signed during the IATA Annual General Meeting in Rio de Janeiro and will add ITA Airways' network to the existing cooperation between Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines and ANA.
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May 12, 2026
The agreement comes several months after Lufthansa Group acquired a minority stake in ITA Airways, beginning a process that is expected to lead to full control of the Italian airline. Lufthansa has already indicated its intention to increase its participation over time and ultimately assume control of the airline.
ITA's inclusion in the joint venture will bring its Rome Fiumicino-Tokyo Haneda service into the partnership, allowing coordinated scheduling, ticket sales and network planning with the other participating airlines.
The agreement also includes domestic and regional flights operated by ITA Airways, providing additional connections through Rome for passengers traveling between Japan and destinations in Italy, Southern Europe and North Africa.
For ANA customers, the addition of ITA Airways expands access beyond the carrier's existing Tokyo Haneda-Milan Malpensa route. ITA passengers, meanwhile, will gain access to ANA's domestic network in Japan through Haneda Airport.
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The Europe-Japan joint venture was established in 2012 and is one of the largest airline partnerships linking the two regions. According to Lufthansa Group, the expanded venture will offer around 160 weekly long-haul flights between Europe and Japan.
The agreement follows a series of measures aimed at integrating ITA Airways into Lufthansa Group's commercial structure. The airline is already preparing to join the Star Alliance network and has begun aligning parts of its operations with Lufthansa and other group carriers.
ITA Airways currently operates a fleet of Airbus aircraft, including A220s, A320-family jets, A330neos and A350-900s. The carrier serves destinations across Europe, North America, South America, Africa and Asia from its hub at Rome Fiumicino.
The expanded joint venture is expected to take effect from autumn 2026, subject to the remaining implementation steps.
