ITA Airways will officially join the Star Alliance on April 1, 2026, marking the final step in its transition away from the SkyTeam alliance.
Alliance Transition Finalised
The move follows the strategic investment by the Lufthansa Group, which paved the way for ITA Airways to align with Star Alliance. The airline had already exited SkyTeam in early 2025 but temporarily maintained limited partnerships with former alliance members.
Frequent Flyer Integration
- ITA’s Volare loyalty programme will end on March 30, 2026
- From April 1, ITA will adopt Miles & More as its primary programme
- Star Alliance frequent flyer members will be able to earn and redeem miles on ITA flights immediately
- Partnerships, such as with Air China, will also activate reciprocal mileage earning and elite benefits
Strategic Context
This shift mirrors broader consolidation trends in Europe’s airline industry:
- ITA (successor to Alitalia) moves into the Star Alliance under Lufthansa’s influence
- Meanwhile, Scandinavian Airlines recently exited Star Alliance to join SkyTeam following investment by Air France–KLM
Bottom Line
ITA Airways’ entry into Star Alliance restores it to a major global network after a transitional period, strengthening both its connectivity and integration within the Lufthansa Group ecosystem while giving frequent flyers immediate alliance-wide benefits.