ITA Airways Joins Star Alliance, Strengthening Africa Links

ITA Airways has officially become the 26th member of Star Alliance, a move that significantly strengthens air links between Rome and Milan and a growing network of African destinations served directly and via alliance partners.

A New Alliance Era for Italy’s Flag Carrier

According to publicly available information from Star Alliance and ITA Airways, the Italian carrier joined the global alliance on 1 April 2026, following its exit from SkyTeam in 2025 and its integration into the Lufthansa Group. The membership places ITA Airways alongside major European network airlines and gives Italy a central role within the world’s largest airline alliance by number of members.

Reports indicate that ITA Airways’ entry as Star Alliance’s 26th member brings more than 70 of its own destinations into the alliance network, including routes radiating from Rome Fiumicino and Milan Linate. These hubs now act as primary gateways for alliance passengers travelling between Europe and Africa, as well as onward to the Americas and Asia.

Industry coverage notes that the move follows regulatory approval of Lufthansa Group’s minority stake in ITA Airways and a subsequent industrial plan built around long haul expansion and alliance integration. Observers describe the transition as a key step in consolidating Italy’s role as a strategic bridge between Northern Europe, the Mediterranean and Africa.

The launch of full membership was marked by an event in Rome bringing together senior leaders from the alliance and partner airlines, underscoring the symbolic importance of Italy’s flag carrier becoming fully embedded in the Star Alliance ecosystem.

Stronger Rome and Milan Hubs for Africa Travel

ITA Airways has been steadily developing Rome Fiumicino as its primary intercontinental hub while positioning Milan, particularly Linate and Malpensa, as supporting gateways. Publicly available network information shows that the airline already connects Rome with key North African cities such as Cairo, Tunis and Algiers, with additional regional services across the Mediterranean that feed long haul flights.

From Milan, ITA Airways and partner carriers offer direct and one stop options into North and East Africa, using Rome as a primary connection point. Schedules highlight that travelers originating in Milan can now access an expanded range of African destinations through coordinated itineraries on fellow Star Alliance members that operate extensive networks on the continent.

The integration into Star Alliance allows these Italian hubs to plug more directly into capacity offered by carriers with deep footprints in Africa, including airlines based in North, West and East Africa that already participate in the alliance or cooperate closely with it. Publicly available timetables show that this translates into additional same day connections and shorter transfer times via Rome and other European gateways.

Travel industry analyses indicate that this strengthened role for Rome and Milan comes at a time of rising demand for leisure, visiting friends and relatives, and business travel between Africa and Southern Europe. Improved connectivity through Italy is expected to appeal in particular to travelers seeking alternatives to traditional Northern European hubs.

Expanded Network Through Star Alliance Partners

While ITA Airways’ own network covers a limited number of African points directly, the Star Alliance membership multiplies options via codeshares and interline partnerships. Coverage in aviation and travel publications explains that passengers can now combine ITA-operated sectors between Italy and major European or Middle Eastern hubs with onward flights by alliance partners into Africa.

For example, Rome Fiumicino serves as a springboard to partner hubs that offer dense African coverage, enabling itineraries from Italian and European cities to destinations in East, West and Southern Africa on a single ticket. The alliance framework allows for harmonized baggage handling, coordinated schedules and shared airport facilities, improving the overall journey experience for travelers.

In addition, recent cooperation agreements between ITA Airways and other long haul carriers have been framed as milestones in the lead up to full Star Alliance integration. Public documents on these partnerships highlight joint sales on routes linking Rome to North African capitals alongside shared services into key markets in the Americas and Asia, underlining Rome’s strengthening role as a multi directional hub.

Industry observers point out that these developments collectively enhance connectivity for African travelers heading to Italy and beyond, offering greater choice of routings and the ability to remain within a single alliance from origin to final destination.

Loyalty Shift to Miles & More and Benefits for Frequent Flyers

As part of the transition, ITA Airways has aligned its loyalty offering with the Lufthansa Group’s Miles & More programme. Publicly available information indicates that ITA’s previous Volare programme was wound down at the end of March 2026, with Miles & More becoming the main frequent flyer currency for ITA-operated flights as of 1 April 2026.

Under the new arrangement, passengers traveling on ITA Airways can earn and redeem miles across the wider Star Alliance network, subject to each carrier’s accrual and redemption tables. Frequent flyers gain access to a broader pool of award seats, plus the ability to combine flights on ITA Airways with those of other alliance members when constructing mileage itineraries.

Travel and loyalty analysts note that elite customers benefit from reciprocal recognition across the alliance, including airport lounge access, priority boarding and check in, and additional baggage allowances when traveling on qualifying fares. For Italian based travelers in particular, this shift brings their home carrier’s offerings in line with those of other major European network airlines.

Reports on the transition suggest that the changeover period has required adjustments for former Volare members, including the management of outstanding balances and a learning curve in understanding Miles & More’s rules. However, the long term expectation in the market is that integration into a larger and more established programme will make ITA Airways more attractive to corporate and high frequency leisure travelers.

Competitive Impact on Europe–Africa Traffic Flows

Market commentary indicates that ITA Airways’ move into Star Alliance adds competitive pressure on rival European hubs serving Africa, particularly those aligned with other global alliances. Rome and Milan are expected to compete more directly with airports in France, the Netherlands and the Gulf that have traditionally dominated connecting traffic between Europe and Africa.

Aviation analysts note that the shift may be especially relevant for travelers in Central and Southern Italy, parts of Central Europe and the Balkans, where routing via Rome can offer shorter overall distances and potentially attractive fares. With the backing of Lufthansa Group and Star Alliance, ITA Airways is positioned to pursue schedule and fleet growth on routes that feed African traffic flows.

Published coverage highlights that airlines operating from African capitals may also benefit from the strengthened alliance links, gaining improved access to Italian and wider European markets through coordinated schedules and shared commercial platforms. This could help support tourism growth and trade ties on both sides of the Mediterranean.

Observers caution that the full impact on capacity, pricing and route development will depend on how quickly ITA Airways and its partners adjust schedules, deploy additional aircraft and secure regulatory approvals for deeper cooperation. Nonetheless, the carrier’s accession to Star Alliance marks a significant structural change in how passengers move between Africa, Italy and the broader Star Alliance network.