ITA Airways CEO 'moves' entry into Star Alliance further: here's when the alliance doors will open

He spoke about new planes and destinations and of Linate's role in ITA Airways' future plans..

But the CEO of the Italian company Joerg Eberhart, introducing the new lounge at Milan's City Airport, he could not avoid discussing. Loyalty programs, international alliances and intercontinental strategies with third-party carriers (compared to the arrangement with Lufthansa).

Because, after three and a half years dancing alone, the biggest news for the carrier and its passengers will come from these very fronts.

What if Integration between the Volare and Miles & More programs has already begun as well as the codeshare of dozens and dozens of flights, ITA's entry into Star Alliance (which will open the doors of FFPs of dozens of airlines that are part of the largest international alliance to the Italian company's passengers) Will require time and patience.

There are many, big and small details, for example each carrier must have at least 2 planes in Star Alliance livery: one for short-haul and one for long-haul. To do these jobs means having to stop the machines, stopping the machines means not making revenue.

"I think that for our entry into Star Alliance will still have to wait approximately one year from now," said Eberhart, moving the bar from early 2026 (as was speculated last February) to the middle of next year.

Then there is another aspect that is particularly close to the CEO's heart, "for which work needs to be started immediately," he said. It is that of ITA Airways' admission into the transatlantic joint venture which sees on this side of the ocean Lufthansa Group companies and on the other two giants like United Airlines e Air Canada.

"This of the Joint Venture (which would effectively open the codeshare doors wide to all flights operated across the Atlantic by members, ed.) is a complex operation because it goes through the approvals of the agencies that regulate air transport in the countries to which the airlines belong, in this case first and foremost the United States and Canada. And these authorizations take work and time."

This will be discussed, again, in late 2026. And only at that point will the full potential of the partnership with Lufthansa be able to bring ITA the desired fruits.

Lastly, we asked. as ever in the new runway lounge, which will open on May 15, no senator zone is present, i.e., for passengers who are most important to the Miles&More world: "We thought about it," concludes ITA's CEO, "but space would not allow us to make a product that would meet the needs, which is why we aimed for a single lounge, but where we aim to offer a high level of service."

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