In early 2025, Lufthansa Group acquired a 41% stake in Italy’s ITA Airways. Italy is an important market for all major European carriers, and it’s one where SkyTeam has historically been strongest, so Lufthansa Group wanted to change that.
Shortly after that happened, ITA Airways left the SkyTeam alliance, with plans to eventually join the Star Alliance, and adopt Miles & More as its loyalty program. While we knew that ITA Airways would adopt Miles & More as its loyalty program as of April 1, we also now know that the airline will officially join the Star Alliance as of that date.
In this post:
ITA Airways enters its next chapter as of April 1, 2026
As of April 1, 2026, ITA Airways is adopting Lufthansa Group’s Miles & More loyalty program, replacing the carrier’s own ITA Volare program. Or perhaps more accurately, the carrier is just shutting down its program.
Unfortunately this transition isn’t smooth at all — points aren’t being honored between programs, so ITA Volare members have to redeem their points directly there. Furthermore, status is being honored in the form of status matches.
Beyond the direct loyalty program development, ITA Airways is also formally joining the Star Alliance as of April 1, meaning the program finally offers full reciprocal perks in terms of being able to earn and redeem points, and take advantage of elite perks, including for Star Alliance Gold members.
Here’s how ITA Airways CEO Joerg Eberhart describes this development:
“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. 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.”
Meanwhile here’s what Star Alliance CEO Theo Panagiotoulias had to say:
“On behalf of our members, I am delighted to welcome ITA Airways as the 26th member of Star Alliance. 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.”
It’s good to see ITA Airways no longer in “no man’s land”
While I’m not necessarily a huge fan of Lufthansa Group or of the Miles & More program, I do consider it to be objectively good that ITA Airways will fully be in an alliance. For roughly a year now, the airline has been between alliances, and that’s just not ideal in terms of reciprocity for earning and redeeming points, taking advantage of elite perks, etc.
Now, ITA Airways has had some bilateral agreements with other airlines during this time, but that’s still a long ways from the simplicity of belonging to one of the major alliances, where the policies between airlines are pretty straightforward.
I’m delighted that it’ll be possible to redeem all Star Alliance rewards currencies, including Avianca Lifemiles, for travel on ITA Airways. Furthermore, this should make a lot more people eligible for lounge access with ITA Airways, both in terms of status and class of service, so expect that the carrier’s limited number of lounges will get a bit more crowded.
Bottom line
On April 1, 2026, ITA Airways is adopting Lufthansa Miles & More as its loyalty program, replacing ITA Volare. On top of that, the airline is joining the Star Alliance, roughly a year after leaving the SkyTeam alliance. I’m excited to have more opportunities to earn and redeem points for travel on ITA, and also to take advantage of elite perks.
What do you make of this ITA Airways loyalty development?
Thats pretty good news! Have some Biz Flights with them mid April so I can credit the Miles to TK M&S to keep my Star Alliance Gold :D
At least in Theory, that should work out
Are ya sure of that effective date 01 April ?? ..... No foolin' !! What could possibly go wrong... we are talking a 'Luftwaffe' endeavor .... lol
Can you use a United domestic lounge if you are flying ITA ?
The 'shuffle' between Alitalia/ITA going from SkyTeam to Star Alliance and SAS from Star Alliance to SkyTeam kinda sorta balances things out, no?
well... considering popularity as tourist destination as well as geography for general flight connection, I would say, ITA acquisition would be much more valuable than that of SAS.
Their regional network is a lot less useful than that of SAS- e.g. they have just one hub, they don't go to major countries like Poland, Romania Portugal or Morocco, only fly year-round to two cities in Spain, one each in Greece, France and the UK etc. The only real benefit to *A flyers at this point is the opportunity to avoid Air Dolomiti flights when flying from/to the Italian regions.
From the individuals point of view, that’s less straightforward. My local airport (DUB) has 0 ITA routes. It has SAS flights to 3 airports - CPH, ARN, OSL.
So SAS is objectively more useful to me.
ITA reward flights were rare so hopefully with the shift to Star Alliance, there will actually be availability.
As a longtime expat based in the ME, I already see a good deal of ITA availability on Aeroplan award search, which I am delighted with. ITA redemption from/to CAI or RUH will be a good deal for me.