ITA Airways is to join the Europe-Japan joint venture between Lufthansa Group and Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways (ANA) from autumn 2026.
The move is part of the continuing integration of ITA into Lufthansa Group after the German aviation firm acquired a minority stake in the Italian airline last year.
The agreement for ITA to join the JV was signed at IATA’s annual general meeting in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday (7 June). It will include ITA’s European network and its long-haul route between Rome Fiumicino and Tokyo Haneda airports, which will complement ANA’s existing services between Milan Malpensa and Haneda.
The Europe-Japan JV was founded in 2012 by Lufthansa and ANA, with Lufthansa Group airlines Swiss and Austrian Airlines joining in the following years.
Joerg Eberhart, CEO and general manager of ITA Airways, said: “This agreement represents a key milestone in the international development of ITA Airways and further strengthens the airline’s connectivity to the Asia-Pacific region, an area of major strategic importance.”
Japanese authorities have already granted antitrust immunity for ITA to become a member of the joint venture, which allows airlines to co-ordinate flight schedules.
Lufthansa is planning to increase its stake in ITA to 90 per cent, as part of an additional €325 million agreement, which is set to be completed in 2027.