Turkish Airlines and Italian flag carrier ITA Airways have formed a codeshare partnership for flights between Istanbul and Rome, as well as several domestic routes throughout Italy, the two airlines announced.
Effective from July, the agreement promises more flexibility, enhanced services and “seamless connectivity” with single tickets on codeshare flights between Italy and Turkey.
ITA Airways flight numbers will be placed on Turkish Airlines flights between Rome and Istanbul, while the Turkish carrier will place its flight numbers on nine domestic Italian routes from Rome to Brindisi, Bari, Catania, Florence, Genoa, Palermo, Lamezia Terme, Turin and Trieste.
Turkish Airlines CEO Bilal Ekşi said: “I firmly believe this codeshare agreement between Turkish Airlines and ITA Airways will be developing the existing network with even more destinations and foster cooperation and traffic between two countries with high potential."
Fabio Lazzerini, CEO and general manager of ITA Airways said the partnership is “a step forward” in the carrier’s commercial growth strategy and marks its 32nd codeshare agreement.
The Italian carrier was recently acquired by Lufthansa as part of a €325 million deal. It is expected that ITA will soon also begin codeshare flights with the Lufthansa group, which includes Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Eurowings. Local news reports suggest the carrier will also join the Star Alliance group of carriers as well as Lufthansa’s transatlantic joint venture with United Airlines and Air Canada.