Lufthansa Sets Sights on Eastern Europe as Part of ITA Airways Expansion
Following the green light from the European Commission, Lufthansa’s acquisition of a 41% stake in Italy’s ITA Airways, with an option for full ownership, has sparked ambitious plans to expand the carrier’s reach. Lufthansa aims to make ITA a central player in Eastern European travel, focusing on connecting passengers from the region to the United States.
The strategy hinges on leveraging Rome’s Fiumicino Airport as a major hub, funneling travelers from Eastern Europe through the Italian capital and onto lengthy transatlantic flights. This move is expected to significantly expand ITA’s presence in the lucrative transatlantic market, bolstering Lufthansa Group’s overall network.
"ITA Airways’ [
only destination in the former Yugoslavia is Split, which was served only in August this year for a total of just five flights."
Romanian low-cost carrier Wizz Air has notably carved a strong niche in the Eastern European market in recent years. Alps-based Edelweiss Air is another competitor, albeit with a smaller presence, serving connections from Zurich, Switzerland.
Lufthansa’s strategy harkens back to the days of Alitalia, ITA’s predecessor, which previously connected several Eastern European cities directly to Rome and other Italian hubs. Alitalia offered service from Rome to Belgrade and Podgorica year-round and seasonally to Dubrovnik and Split.in addition to flights from Milan to Sarajevo, Zagreb and Skopje.
However, ITA’s foray into this market stumbled initially, with planned services to Belgrade repeatedly postponed. While the CEO of ITA has touted the potential for further expansion within the region, concrete plans remain to be seen.
The airline’s existing network partnership with Air Serbia, which offers connections to eight Italian cities and plans to add Sardinia next year, further highlights the significance of the region for ITA.
Similarly, a codeshare agreement with Croatia Airlines demonstrates ITA’s interest in tapping into the region’s growing aviation market.
Additions to ITA’s fleet, including the EuroAtlantic Airways Airbus A330 aircraft, are expected to bolster its long-haul capabilities, further supporting transatlantic expansion plans.
and its expansion in Eastern Europe, subsidiary Air Dolomiti will also be employed to shuttle passengers through Italy onwards to far away markets.
Despite the optimism surrounding the Lufthansa-ITA partnership, challenges remain. The complex geopolitical landscape in Eastern Europe, particularly in the wake of the conflict in Ukraine, presents potential hurdles for route development and passenger demand.
The future of ITA Airways under Lufthansa’s wing will be closely watched by the aviation industry. Whether Lufthansa can successfully leverage ITA’s brand and network to unlock the vast potential of the Eastern European market remains a compelling question.
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/
AVvXsEhDFSoagqfjmRoQgFhzSaWw3QM0fOnw2YJXc-0twv2pkUXAV_J1b7VTFerMUmeT7fjmf3ywKFlnMpu_MdZfeP0_tYXRKFau73C0FBPHByVn1UdRYcOoEFlp527KfpD8nTBNN0BuBg3REx0Od98A66wJ7rq2Ca6yvB7kzjQzgjTdF9hRM1pnbH1yoNzbP5U/w640-h392/itaairways.jpg" width="640" height="392">
