Lufthansa Group and ANA Expand Europe-Japan Joint Venture with the Addition of ITA Airways
The strategic alliance between the Lufthansa Group and All Nippon Airways (ANA) will welcome the Italian flag carrier starting this autumn. The agreement, signed at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Annual General Meeting, will boost connectivity to the Asia-Pacific region through a coordinated schedule and new connection options via the Rome-Fiumicino hub.
Strategic Expansion in the Europe-Japan Market
The commercial aviation landscape between Europe and Asia is undergoing a significant transformation. ITA Airways has taken a fundamental step toward its formal integration into the European airline group following the signing of the agreement to join the commercial Joint Venture currently operated by Lufthansa and ANA.
This strategic alliance, originally founded in 2012 by Lufthansa and ANA—and subsequently joined by SWISS and Austrian Airlines—will receive final technical approval after securing antitrust immunity from Japanese authorities a few weeks ago. With the arrival of the Italian carrier, the Joint Venture will consolidate a massive offering of 160 weekly long-haul flights between Europe and Japan.
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New Routes, Connections, and Operational Synergies
The inclusion of the Italian airline will bring deep cooperation in key areas, integrating its European network (which includes Italy’s domestic market and the Maghreb) with its flagship intercontinental route between Rome-Fiumicino Airport and Tokyo-Haneda Airport.
This addition complements the Joint Venture’s current connectivity in Italian territory, where ANA already operates a service between Tokyo-Haneda and Milan-Malpensa Airport.
Optimization of Travel Times and Regional Connectivity
The benefit for international passengers lies in the capillarity of the combined networks:
- Optimized Connections: Connecting flights operated by ITA Airways to Rome will reduce travel times to and from Japan, particularly benefiting destinations in Southern Europe, the Mediterranean region, and North Africa.
- Japan Domestic Network: Beyond Tokyo-Haneda, travelers arriving from Europe will gain immediate access to ANA’s extensive domestic flight network within Japan.
- Multi-Hub Flexibility: Passengers will be able to flexibly combine all long-haul and regional connecting flights across Tokyo-Haneda and the Lufthansa Group’s five hubs.
Commercial Benefits and Customer Experience
Starting this autumn, ITA Airways’ daily direct flight between Rome and Tokyo will be bookable through the sales channels of ANA, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, and SWISS. Similarly, the implementation of a joint and combinable commercial offer will be deployed sequentially starting from late 2026.
Customers of the five partner airlines will enjoy a standardized, high-quality travel experience. Tickets and frequent flyer loyalty programs will be mutually recognized, and all passengers will have access to the corresponding airport lounges in both Rome and Tokyo. Notably, both Rome-Fiumicino and Tokyo-Haneda airports hold the maximum five-star rating awarded by the Skytrax aviation consultancy.
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