United Airlines and Italy’s ITA Airways announce codeshare partnership ahead of Star Alliance entry

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United Airlines and Italy’s ITA Airways announce codeshare partnership ahead of Star Alliance entry

Research

Scott Kirby, chief executive officer | United Airlines

By Sky Industry News

Sep 17, 2025

United Airlines and Italy's ITA Airways are set to begin a codeshare and loyalty partnership on September 15, marking a step in ITA’s integration into the Lufthansa Group. The collaboration will allow members of United’s MileagePlus and ITA’s Volare loyalty programs to earn and redeem points on both airlines’ flights. Elite members from each program will have access to both carriers’ lounges.

The agreement comes as ITA prepares to exit the SkyTeam alliance and join Star Alliance with United and other airlines in early 2026. Lufthansa Group acquired a 41% stake in ITA from the Italian government at the start of 2025, with plans to fully integrate ITA into its airline portfolio. ITA was established in 2020 from Alitalia's assets.

A United spokesperson stated, “MileagePlus members will earn valuable status points and segments when flying on ITA as well.”

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As part of the codeshare arrangement, ITA will place its "AZ" code on United-operated flights to several U.S. airports such as Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Denver International Airport (DEN), and Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). The two airlines share gateways at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), and Dulles International Airport (IAD) near Washington, D.C.

In Europe, United will use its "UA" code on select ITA flights to destinations including Florence Airport (FLR), Catania-Fontanarossa Airport (CTA), and Turin Airport (TRN) in Italy. Connections between the carriers will be available at Brussels Airport (BRU), Frankfurt Airport (FRA), and Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport (FCO).

The partnership is also expected to pave the way for ITA’s entry into an existing joint venture between Air Canada, Lufthansa Group, and United Airlines. Such joint ventures allow participating airlines to coordinate schedules, fares, and sales across markets—in this case, transatlantic routes between North America and Europe.

Lufthansa Group CEO Carsten Spohr addressed the strategic necessity of integrating ITA: “If you force ITA to fly against all three American carriers, who are all like 10-times the size of ITA, and even Emirates that also operates on the North Atlantic out of Milan, ITA will have no sustainable future,” Spohr said in 2024.

Further details about the full integration timeline for ITA into these partnerships have not been announced.