ITA Airways is taking a further step towards integration within the Lufthansa Group, from this autumn, it will join the strategic Lufthansa-ANA Europe-Japan joint venture.
Deeper cooperation across strategic areas
The agreement was signed on 7 June during the IATA Annual General Meeting in Rio de Janeiro and the Italian airline’s entry into the major Europe-Japan joint venture will enable deeper cooperation across numerous strategic areas. It will encompass ITA Airways’ European network, including domestic routes within Italy, the Maghreb region (North Africa) and its long-haul service between Rome-Fiumicino and Tokyo-Haneda. This expands the scope of the joint venture in Italy, which already includes the existing route operated by ANA between Tokyo-Haneda and Milan-Malpensa.
Daily Rome-Tokyo Haneda flights from Rome Fiumicino
At the heart of the agreement is ITA Airways’ hub at Rome Fiumicino Airport, from where the leading Italian carrier operates a daily direct flight to Tokyo Haneda. Both airports have been awarded the highest five-star rating by Skytrax. From autumn onwards, this intercontinental route will also be bookable by customers of ANA, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines and Swiss, allowing for flexible connections with their own flights. Furthermore, the introduction of a joint offering will be rolled out progressively from autumn 2026. Customers will be informed as soon as it becomes available.
Shorter journey times between Japan and Southern Europe
As the joint venture also includes code-share flights operated by ITA Airways to Rome, passengers travelling to and from Japan will benefit from additional travel options. In particular the Rome hub will ensure shorter journey times for connections between Japan and destinations in Southern Europe, the Mediterranean region and North Africa. At the same time, ANA will offer ITA Airways passengers numerous opportunities to connect from Tokyo Haneda to its domestic network in Japan.
"A greater number of travel options"
All passengers will also have access to the respective airlines’ lounges in Rome and Tokyo and will benefit from the mutual recognition of tickets and loyalty programmes between the two airlines. “This agreement is a milestone in the international development of ITA Airways and further strengthens the airline’s connectivity to the Asia-Pacific region, an area of great strategic importance,- commented Joerg Eberhart, CEO and general manager ITA Airways. -We can now offer our customers a greater number of travel options, more efficient connections and an increasingly integrated experience.”
