Italy’s ITA to join Star Alliance

Italy’s ITA Airways is set to join Star Alliance in 2025, alongside new majority owner Lufthansa and heavy-hitters such as ANA, Singapore Airlines and United Airlines.

ITA, which launched in 2021 as successor to the bankrupt Alitalia, currently belongs to the SkyTeam family.

That relationship will end after the European Commission approved Lufthansa’s acquisition of a 41% stake in ITA Airways, with an option for full ownership later, expanding its reach in southern Europe

And ITA has not hidden its alliance ambitions, with the airline earlier this year confirming it was “aiming to join Star Alliance in the near future.”

Star Alliance has been approached for comment by Executive Traveller.

ITA will also close its Volare frequent flyer program and switch to the powerhouse Miles & More scheme of Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian and others in the Lufthansa Group.

However, even before ITA adopts Miles & More and pulls up a chair at the Star Alliance table, the airline says it will offer lounge access to business class passengers, Volare Club Premium and Volare Club Executive members as soon as the ink is dry on Lufthansa’s €325m deal for that 41% stake.

“From the first day after the closing,” ITA promises, “respective lounges will be mutually accessible.”

And when ITA eventually takes full membership of Star Alliance, this will only increase the appeal of the HSBC Star Alliance Credit Card, which unlocks Star Alliance Gold Status in less than 90 days without you even needing to set foot onto a plane.

Read more: Here’s your fast track to Star Alliance Gold status