Airline profile · Europe

ITA Airways

ItalyFull-service carrierStar Alliance memberSince 2020

AZIATA code

ITYICAO code

ITA Airways (IATA AZ, ICAO ITY) is Italy's flag carrier, founded in 2020 to succeed Alitalia and based in Rome, with hubs at Rome Fiumicino and Milan Linate. Lufthansa Group has owned 41% since January 2025, and ITA joined Star Alliance in 2026. As of 2026 it served 58 airports in 29 countries with an all-Airbus fleet.

Founded: 2020
First flight: 2021
Headquarters: Rome, Italy
Country: Italy
Main hubs: Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) · Milan Linate Airport (LIN)
Airline type: Full-service carrier
Alliance: Star Alliance
Loyalty: Miles & More
Ownership: 59% owned by Italy's Ministry of Economy and Finance and 41% by Deutsche Lufthansa AG since 17 January 2025. In May 2026 Lufthansa said it would exercise an option to raise its stake to 90%, with completion expected in early 2027.
Callsign: ITARROW
Website: ita-airways.com

How travel agents book ITA Airways

GDS distribution

ITA signed a long-term multi-source content agreement with Travelport in March 2026, covering its content on Travelport+. ITA is adopting the Lufthansa Group distribution approach; the Lufthansa Group Distribution Cost Charge on EDIFACT GDS tickets was not shown as applying to ITA in the sources we checked.

NDC

Travelport signed a long-term agreement with ITA on 30 March 2026 for future NDC distribution on Travelport+, under which agencies in the Lufthansa Group NDC programme will gain easier access to ITA NDC offers. Trade press in April 2026 reported ITA being integrated into the Lufthansa Group NDC programme; no go-live date was published.

Direct channels

Direct channels include ita-airways.com and the ITA Airways app.

Notes for travel agents

BSP and ARC agencies with ITA ticketing authority will be able to book and manage ITA NDC orders through Travelport once the agreement is implemented. ITA uses the AZ code formerly held by Alitalia.

On ReservationHub

ReservationHub gives agencies GDS content from Amadeus, Sabre and Travelport plus NDC and low-cost channels in one platform. See the full list on our integrations page.

History of ITA Airways

Italia Trasporto Aereo (ITA) was created by the Italian state in 2020 as a new national airline to replace Alitalia, which had failed after years of losses. The European Commission ruled that ITA was not Alitalia's economic successor, so it did not inherit Alitalia's state aid debts. ITA launched flights in 2021, taking over part of Alitalia's network and the AZ code, and also bought the Alitalia brand, which it does not use as its trading name.

Lufthansa Group agreed to buy a stake in May 2023, and after European Commission approval in November 2024 it completed the purchase of 41% on 17 January 2025. ITA became the group's fifth network airline, with Rome Fiumicino as the group's sixth hub. It left SkyTeam in 2025 and joined Star Alliance on 1 April 2026, moving its loyalty members to Miles & More the same day.

In May 2026 Lufthansa said it would take its holding to 90%, with completion expected in early 2027. ITA is also adopting the Lufthansa Group distribution model, including its NDC programme.

Milestones

2020ITA founded by the Italian state to succeed Alitalia.
2021Started flight operations.
2023Lufthansa Group and the Italian government agreed on a minority stake.
2025Lufthansa completed its 41% stake on 17 January; ITA left SkyTeam.
2026Joined Star Alliance and Miles & More on 1 April; Lufthansa moved to raise its stake to 90%.

Fleet

Airbus A220 Airbus A319 Airbus A320/A320neo Airbus A321neo (A321LR) Airbus A330-200 Airbus A330-900neo Airbus A350-900

Aircraft types in service as of 2026

ITA flies an all-Airbus fleet. Star Alliance listed 106 aircraft in 2026. In January 2026 the widebody fleet was 25 aircraft: 14 A330-900neos, 6 A350-900s and 5 older A330-200s being phased out, with 3 more A330neos and 2 A350s due. Pratt & Whitney engine inspections kept about 15 aircraft parked in 2026.

Network and hubs

Rome Fiumicino is ITA's main hub and Milan Linate its second, with domestic routes, European flights and long-haul services to North and South America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Star Alliance listed 58 airports in 29 countries in 2026.

As part of the Lufthansa Group, ITA codeshares with its sister airlines, uses the group's terminals in Frankfurt and Munich, and gives its passengers access to more than 1,150 Star Alliance destinations.

ITA Airways: frequently asked questions

What are ITA Airways' airline codes?

ITA Airways uses the IATA code AZ, the code previously used by Alitalia, and the ICAO code ITY with the radio callsign ITARROW. Its registered company name is Italia Trasporto Aereo S.p.A.

Is ITA Airways part of the Lufthansa Group?

Yes. Lufthansa Group completed the purchase of 41% of ITA Airways on 17 January 2025, and the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance holds the other 59%. In May 2026 Lufthansa said it would raise its holding to 90%, expected in early 2027.

Which alliance is ITA Airways in?

ITA Airways joined Star Alliance on 1 April 2026 as its 26th member, after leaving SkyTeam in 2025. On the same day its Volare loyalty programme closed and ITA moved to Lufthansa Group's Miles & More.

Is ITA Airways the same company as Alitalia?

No. ITA Airways is a separate company set up in 2020 by the Italian state. The European Commission ruled that it was not Alitalia's economic successor. ITA uses Alitalia's former AZ code and owns the Alitalia brand, but trades as ITA Airways.

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Sources

Profile updated 4 November 2026 by the ReservationHub team. Airline details change: confirm schedules, fares and policies with the airline before booking. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.