The expansionist aims of the Lufthansa group seem to know no bounds. And they are destined to reshape Europe’s skies. Now that the ITAAirways deal has become a reality - even though the integration process is still in its early stages - the German giant is in direct competition with Air France-KLM to acquire a stake in Air Europa. The latter, the third largest Spanish airline after Iberia and Vueling, has been looking for a new investor for some time to repay the €475 million in state aid it received during the pandemic.
With a fleet of some fifty aircraft, Air Europa is tempting Lufthansa because of its significant market share on routes between Madrid and Latin America, where Lufthansa aims to strengthen its position. The Spanish long-haul network is in fact a strategic element for consolidating the German airline's position on the lucrative routes between Europe and the Americas, in direct competition with Iberia and Air France KLM. According to the Spanish newspaper El Confidencial, the Franco-Dutch group has offered the Hidalgo family (which controls Air Europa) €300 million for 51% of the shares and is willing to take on the airline's outstanding debts to the Spanish government. Lufthansa, on the other hand, has apparently offered €240 million in exchange for a 25% share. The German group's proposal would also include negotiations with Boeing for the 787 Dreamliner, thus strengthening the Spanish company's operational capacity. The decision now rests with the Hidalgo family, who appear to favour Lufthansa's offer, which would allow them to retain the majority of the shares and see Air Europa's value increase to over €1 billion in the medium term.

Mariella Cattaneo
Journalist

Italy is a land of further investments for United Airlines, starting with the new New York- Palermo flights from 21 May, but with projects that extend to 2026. 

“Italy’s positioning is almost podium level” 

“This is currently just a personal feeling,- says Walter Cianciusi, Italy sales manager, - but I would certainly still bet on Italy, whose positioning - and this is certain - is almost podium-level.  In recent years it has risen a lot in the ranking of the most important markets for United Airlines, with Fiumicino increasingly taking on the role of a hub for Southern Europe.”

The challenge in 2025 comes with several new developments…

“Yes, it does, like the launch of the New York-Palermo route, with three weekly flights from 21 May, then it will be Washington to Venice, and the new route from Denver to Rome, a seasonal flight that joins the other six already operating on Fiumicino. This is the fourth airport in Europe connected to Denver, after London, Frankfurt and Munich: a choice that once again underscores the value of the Italian market for United.”

What will be the increase in capacity in 2025?

“Italy, as I said, is a very important market and Rome in particular. In summer 2025 we will be operating out of five different airports - unique for United - with up to 14 non-stop flights a day between the United State and Italy. This means the annual capacity will increase by more than 13% compared to 2024. Rome will see an increase of 9%, which at the peak of the summer, will rise to 18%; from Naples we will increase by 10% and from Venice by 77%, while the capacity from Milan Malpensa will remain unchanged. In addition, the airline's vast network will be available to Italian passengers once they reach the USA. For example, we will be offering passengers from Palermo over 61 connecting destinations from Newark, with 86 for those arriving on flights from Naples, for a total of 208 connecting flights from Rome.”

2025 is also the year of the Jubilee: will this affect United?

“In general, the US component dominates on our flights and this figure is likely to increase this year.”

Premium demand is constantly increasing, is this also the case for you?

“Definitely. While pure corporate travel is still a little slow to recover compared to pre-Covid levels, leisure passengers travelling in business are filling this small gap. They are demanding clients, who sometimes use their miles to travel in our Polaris. An incentive to purchase this class also comes from the sales strategy that allows upgrades up to two hours before the flight.” The big news for United will be the arrival of the A321 XLRs, which will change the face of the fleet starting in 2026 as they progressively replace the older B757s as well as some 767s. “Another service innovation is the agreement with Starlink for fast Internet connection on board our aircraft. After a test stage this spring on the Embraer 175, it will be available on the main fleet by the end of the year and on the entire fleet by 2026.”

At Naples Capodichino Airport North American flights have quadrupled in just two years. 

Naples Airport has a network of 120 destinations

A more intercontinental character thanks to the growth of flights from North America, and a low-cost presence that includes bases for all four of the main European carriers. This is the picture of summer 2025 at Naples airport, which since last July has been joined by Salerno Aiport, both of which have GESAC management. This year that promises further growth compared to 2024, which closed with a clearly positive balance said Roberto Barbieri, CEO of GESAC.  “The 2025 network is vast with 120 destinations and more intercontinental flights, thanks to an impressive development of the offer to and from North America.” Naples will have 43 weekly flights from six airports – Atlanta, Chicago, Montreal, New York Newark, New York JFK and Philadelphia – served by the main US airlines: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and Air Canada. 

“Intercontinental flights attract high-spending tourists”

Roberto Barbieri, CEO of GESAC

“In just two years, the number of seats offered to and from North America will have more than quadrupled, from 100,000 in 2023 to 440,000 in 2025.”  This schedule promises to have a positive impact on the region: “Intercontinental flights attract a high percentage of high-spending tourists who stay longer with a positive impact on the entire economic chain. A recent study conducted by Nomisma calculated that Naples Airport contributes 4.2% of the regional GDP, generating a total of about 112 thousand jobs. It is estimated that the new intercontinental flights will guarantee as many as 10 thousand more jobs and a further increase of 0.5% for the regional GDP.”  Expectations are for “high load factors” for both inbound and outbound flights.

The low-cost airlines have a 76% share at Naples Airport

Beijing and Tokyo are being touted as potential new entries: ‘This is an ambitious and very interesting goal for us but will need an upgrade in infrastructure. We are working with ENAC (the Italian Civil Aviation Authority) and the Municipality of Naples to draw up a development plan that is both environmentally sustainable and industrially sound.” Low-cost airlines remain strategic partners, with a market share of 76%. “Ryanair is currently the leading airline operating at Naples Airport and all four of the main European low-cost airlines – Ryanair, easyJet, Volotea and Wizz Air – have an operational base here, guaranteeing greater operational stability and also contributing to employment and more efficient and reliable operations.”

There's more and more Italy in 2025 for American Airlines which will operate up to 11 flights a day between the United States and Italy this summer.

“Italy is our second European market” 

“This is our largest operation ever between the United States and Italy”, explains José Freig, VP international operations American Airlines.  It is thanks to “new flights that will increase the network to Rome, Milan, Naples and Venice. Italy is our second European market in terms of the number of flights in the peak summer season, behind London Heathrow, with over 20 daily flights.” American Airlines current booking trend confirms the soundness of the investment: “The trend is very positive. There is certainly a ‘Jubilee effect’ that is helping to further strengthen the demand of our passengers for Rome, which has been one of the most popular destinations in our global network for several years.” 

Flights to Naples are doubling this year

Together with the increase in the number of flights and a longer season, the newly announced Miami-Rome Fiumicino, Philadelphia-Malpensa and Chicago-Naples routes stand out and are “all seasonal routes, served by daily connections.” After its debut in last year's American network with the flight from Philadelphia, Naples is doubling up this year “thanks to its strategic position that allows US travellers to reach highly sought-after destinations, from Capri to the Amalfi Coast, and to be a gateway to Southern Italy. On the other hand, both Philadelphia and Chicago are two of our main strategic hubs in the USA for flights to and from Europe: from there we operate numerous connecting flights to and from the United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean, guaranteeing passengers extremely convenient and widespread connectivity.

This summer American will operate up to 480 daily flights from Chicago 

The schedule calls for the Philadelphia-Naples service to begin on 5 May, “a month earlier than last year, with daily flights throughout the summer season. We will continue to monitor demand to ensure that our services meet the needs of our passengers. We expect the new Chicago-Naples service to become a popular service.”   This summer American will operate up to 480 daily flights from Chicago, offering 25% more seats and 22% more departures than last year. The airline will also introduce new connections from Chicago to Madrid and Halifax. Although it has to deal with the continuing “delays in the delivery of Boeing 787s, due to which the company has modified the service on some routes this summer to ensure that it can accommodate passengers from the flights concerned,” the global network continues to expand: “We have new routes to Athens, Madrid and Edinburgh, and for the second season we are reconfirming flights to Brisbane as well as seasonal flights to Copenhagen and Nice.” 

Neos' wager on New York has paid off as the carrier offers up to 7 flights a week this year.

A major player from Milan Malpensa to the Big Apple 

Neos NY aldo sarnataroNot only has Neos, the Alpitour group airline, become one of the major players operating from Milan Malpensa to the Big Apple, but the outlines of the inbound project are also more defined, with the next departure from Bari, following the launch of Palermo last year. The 2025 season aims “to confirm what was done in 2024, which was very good, - says Neos’ commercial director Aldo Sarnataro. -We are emerging from a pandemic and fortunately business is growing, now we need to reorganize and standardize what has been introduced, both in terms of volumes and diversification.” 

“Demand on the USA-Italy route is very high”

“New York was a super challenging project, which might have seemed out of our league, but it produced the desired results. The product is there, demand on the USA-Italy route is very high and we can have our say. It also allows us to work on the trade by offering an important product, increasing volumes and targets towards travel agencies that can do other things with us.” 

Up to 7 weekly Italy-New York flights 

“The current trend in bookings is very positive, and we are relaunching because there is a lot of demand from different Italian airports: Bari started like that, and it adds another piece to our incoming puzzle. Even if, at the moment, compared to Palermo, there is a lot of outbound - we are at 70% to 30% - but the booking window from the USA is just starting, so we expect this to change.” Neos' 2025 offer between New York and Italy will include as many as 7 flights a week: four to Milan Malpensa, two to Palermo and one to Bari.

Driven by the ongoing recovery in post-pandemic travel demand, Italian airports have literally taken off. In fact, the final figures for 2024 show a total of over 219 million passengers, 11.1% more than in 2023, achieving the 2028 target three years earlier than planned.

For the first time since 2019, traffic composition has returned to pre-COVID levels, with domestic travelers making up one-third and international travelers accounting for two-thirds—totaling 146 million passengers in the international segment.

Airports are a strategic sector, accounting for 3.8% of Italy’s GDP and generating 1.3 million jobs. “For every additional million passengers, 552 jobs are generated in the airport sector and 6,105 at a national level,” says Pierluigi Di Palma, president of ENAC (the Italian Civil Aviation Authority), emphasizing how “airports are a driving force for development.”  

Bergamo Airport

In other words, for every euro invested in the Italian airport system, €3.2 are generated in the national economy. Airports, at last also in Italy, are no longer mere transit points but hubs of development that can generate value for the economic and social fabric of the country.  With ever-evolving infrastructure driven by dynamic innovation and transformation, alongside a growing commitment to sustainability.

The warning to policymakers, urging them to give greater consideration to the entire airport sector, comes from Carlo Borgomeo, president of Assaeroporti.

Mariella Cattaneo
Journalist

United Airlines has its sights fixed on Italy with major investments, including the new flights to Palermo and plans that extend into 2026. 

“Italy is close to podium level” 

“My personal feeling is that Italy is close to podium level,- says Walter Cianciusi, sales manager United for Italy.  I am betting on Italy whose placement hovers just shy of the podium, having risen considerably in recent years in the ranking of the most important markets for United, with Fiumicino increasingly evolving into a key hub for Southern Europe."

Meanwhile 2025 already brings with it a series of developments...

‘Yes, with the launch of New York-Palermo from 21 May with three weekly flights, then Washington, a prestigious destination, with flights to Venice, and the new route from Denver to Rome, a seasonal flight that adds to the other six already operating from Fiumicino. Rome’s Fiumicino is the fourth airport connected to Denver from Europe, and follows London, Frankfurt and Munich: a choice that once again underlines the significance of the Italian market for United.” 

What is the capacity increase put in place for 2025?

“Italy, as I was saying, is a very important basin, with Rome first and foremost, and the summer of 2025 sees us operating out of five different airports with up to 14 non-stop flights a day between the United States and Italy. This means the annual capacity will grow by 13% over 2024. Rome will consist of +9% and in the height of summer will rise to +18%; flights to Naples will increase by 10% and to Venice  by 77%, while the capacity on Milan Malpensa will remain unchanged. In addition, the company's vast network will be available to Italian passengers once in the US: for example, we will offer over 61 connecting destinations from Newark to passengers arriving from Palermo; 86 for those arriving on flights from Naples, and 208 connecting flights for anyone coming from Rome.”

2025 is also the year of the Jubilee: will this affect the composition of United’s traffic?

“Generally speaking, the US component dominates on our flights and this will probably increase this year.

Premium demand is seen as steadily increasing, is this also the case for you?

“Definitely. While corporate traffic is still a little slow in recovering from the pre-Covid numbers, the leisure passenger travelling in business is closing this gap. We are talking about a demanding customer, who sometimes uses miles to travel in our Polaris class. An incentive to buy this class also comes from the sales strategies that allow upgrading up to two hours before the flight.”  

Are there any innovations for the fleet?

“The big news will be the entry of the A321 XLR, which will change the face of the fleet starting in 2026. They will gradually replace the older B757s as well as some 767s. Another development is the agreement with Starlink for fast internet connection on board our aircraft, which after a test phase this spring on the Embraer 175s, by the end of the year will be available on the main fleet and by 2026 on the entire fleet.” 

The new chapter, still to be written, of the shared history of ITA Airways and Lufthansa officially kicked off on 15 January 2025, at the end of the operation that led LH to acquire a 41% stake in the Italian carrier and contribute the initial €325 million.

ITA’s new board has five members

Two years after the initial expression of interest by the Lufthansa group there is now a new CEO, Jörg Eberhart (German by birth but Italian by adoption, former president of Air Dolomiti) and a new president, Sandro Pappalardo (an Air Force pilot, ENIT advisor and with a past as tourism advisor of the Sicily Region), and a new board of directors. The latter consists of five members: Eberhart and Pappalardo, Antonella Ballone, Lorenza Maggio and Efrem Angelo Valeriani.

new CEO Jörg Eberhart

“A renewed vision of development, innovation and sustainability”

“I am proud and honoured to have been appointed to this prestigious post,- said Eberhart. -After more than two years of hard work, this new chapter in the company's history will allow us to strengthen our position and develop strategic synergies that will enhance the growth and solidity of ITA Airways as a key Italian carrier, ready to guarantee the country greater connectivity and giving passengers a wider choice of destinations, with a renewed vision of development, innovation and sustainability.”

Lufthansa will invest a total of €829 million in ITA

The Ministry of Economy and Finance, which currently holds 59% of ITA's shares, will eventually sell them to the Germans when Lufthansa exercises its options for control between the end of 2025 and 2029. The German group will then be able to acquire a further 49% by paying an additional €325 million.  The final step is expected after 2029, when Lufthansa will be able to exercise its option to acquire the final 10% for €79 million and a total investment of €829 million.

The die is cast. The final signature, a new board of directors, a new managing director and chairman, Joerg Eberhart and Sandro Pappalardo. On 15 January ITA Airways officially fell within the remit of the German colossus which, despite now holding “only” 41% of the capital (the remaining 59% is still in the hands of the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance) has practically obtained full control of ITA, effectively holding the operational roles, primarily that of managing director.

Fine. Now the ball is truly in the hands of the Germans who will need to showcase on the ground all the untapped potential of the carrier reborn from the ashes of the old Alitalia. Of which, let’s not forget, it holds the glorious brand, purchased in 2021 to the sum of €90 million.

Carsten Spohr, CEO of the Lufthansa group, said in the days immediately preceding the closing that “ITA is the biggest acquisition in the history of Lufthansa. Without the prospect of a nine-figure profit contribution, we would not have taken this step.”  High hopes consequently for ITA which, according to the industrial plan agreed with the Germans, should make a profit as early as 2025, the Jubilee year, from which a significant increase in traffic at Rome Fiumicino is expected. Strategic synergies to be created with the group's other carriers - Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Eurowings – are estimated at generating savings of around €300 million. 

The Roman hub is where LH's ambitions are centered, as from here the ITA network to Africa and South America will see an increase in frequencies, with new routes to Bogotà in Colombia and other destinations in Brazil. At the same time unprofitable routes will be abandoned to concentrate on more profitable segments, such as the leisure market and Eastern Europe. The aim being to intercept passenger demand towards North America, centered specifically on long-haul flights from Fiumicino. And Air Dolomiti, the historic Italian jewel that has been a member of the German group for 26 years, will additionally be tasked with transporting passengers to ITA's intercontinental flights

Mariella Cattaneo
Journalist

The end of 2024 coincides with the closing of the circle on the ITA Airways-Lufthansa versus EU Antitrust affair. On 29 November Brussels gave its unconditional approval to the transaction with the two parties entering into an agreement and the German group acquiring an initial 41% stake in ITA's capital.

Having closed a chapter, that to describe as tormented would be an oversimplification, 2025 will start for the newborn group with a new industrial plan. But not before mid-January when Lufthansa and the Italian Ministry of the Economy (still ITA's sole shareholder) will have signed the deal and both partners will start writing new chapters of a shared history that, from that day forward, will culminate with the total integration between ITA and Lufthansa, probably within a couple of years.

Concretely the first steps will be towards the start-up of codeshare flights with the members of the LH group (Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings/Discover) and the networking of the respective loyalty programmes (Volare and Miles&More). The Germans consider all-round cost optimization and the enhancement of ITA's revenue management—two of its weakest areas—to be their primary focus.

Within the framework of the group's future multi-hub system, a new role will be played by Air Dolomiti, the Italian airline of the LH group, indicated as a feeder for ITA's long-haul flights departing from Rome Fiumicino. "However, there will also be ongoing work with SkyAlps, a regional airline based in Bolzano (Alto Adige), which could instead feed Fiumicino from medium-small airports. And while efforts to define a new network continue without pause - between expansion on the one hand and the revision of unprofitable or non-strategic routes on the other – the new year promises to bring exciting developments.

Mariella Cattaneo
Journalist