ITA Airways to Join Lufthansa-ANA Europe–Japan Joint Venture.

ITA Airways will join the Europe-Japan Joint Venture operated by Lufthansa Group and All Nippon Airways (ANA) from autumn 2026, marking another significant step in the Italian carrier’s integration into the Lufthansa Group.

The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the IATA Annual General Meeting in Rio de Janeiro and will expand the scope of the joint venture, which is currently the largest airline partnership connecting Europe and Japan.

ITA Airways‘ European network, which includes domestic flights in Italy, services to the Maghreb region, and a long-haul link between Rome Fiumicino and Tokyo Haneda, will be included. The addition will complement ANA’s existing Tokyo Haneda–Milan Malpensa service and strengthen connectivity between Japan and Southern Europe.

Rome Fiumicino Airport, from which ITA Airways runs daily nonstop flights to Tokyo Haneda, will be a major focus of the collaboration. From autumn 2026, customers of ANA, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines and SWISS will be able to book the Rome–Tokyo route and combine it with their own services. Additionally, the partners intend to gradually roll out joint commercial solutions throughout the network.

The expanded cooperation will provide travellers with additional connection options through Rome, particularly for destinations across Southern Europe, the Mediterranean and North Africa. ANA’s vast domestic network within Japan will also be advantageous to passengers flying from Japan to Europe.

As part of the partnership, customers will have access to reciprocal lounge facilities in Rome and Tokyo, while tickets and loyalty programme benefits will be mutually recognised across participating airlines.

The Europe-Japan Joint Venture was established in 2012 by Lufthansa and ANA, with SWISS and Austrian Airlines joining subsequently. The collaboration allows participating carriers to coordinate schedules, optimise connections and provide a more seamless customer experience across their combined networks. Following ITA Airways’ inclusion, the joint venture will offer approximately 160 weekly long-haul flights between Europe and Japan.

Juichi Hirasawa, President and CEO of ANA, said, “As we approach the 15th anniversary of our Joint Venture next year, our long-standing partnership with Lufthansa Group has allowed us to offer our passengers a seamless and high-quality travel experience between Japan and Europe. With ITA Airways joining us to open up the gateway to Rome, we look forward to offering travelers exceptional service and even more convenient access to Italy, Southern Europe, the Mediterranean and beyond.”

Joerg Eberhart, General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of ITA Airways stated “We are very proud to join the Europe Japan Joint Venture between ANA and Lufthansa Group. In addition to strengthening the airline’s access to the Asia-Pacific region a region of great strategic importance this agreement marks a significant turning point in ITA Airways’ worldwide development. We are grateful to our partners Lufthansa Group and ANA for this significant opportunity, which will enable us to provide our clients with additional travel choices, faster connections, and a more comprehensive travel experience.”