Lufthansa Group and ITA Airways are extending an?existing codeshare agreement to more long-haul flights to Asia and Africa.

The move marks the latest step to integrate the Italian carrier into the European aviation group after Lufthansa completed its purchase?of a 41 per cent stake in ITA earlier this year.

The extended codeshare arrangement will see the ITA Airways (AZ) code added to Lufthansa Group flights between Delhi and both Frankfurt and Munich, from Mumbai to both Frankfurt and Munich, and on services from Munich to Seoul.

Meanwhile, Lufthansa Airlines¡¯ (LH) code will be added ITA-operated flights from Rome Fiumicino to Accra, Ghana; Dakar, Senegal; and Delhi, India. Codeshare flights are now on sale for travel from 2 September.

The broader codeshare arrangement allows travellers to combine flights from Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines with long-haul flights from ITA Airways in a single booking. Travellers can also earn and redeem miles in their respective frequent flyer programmes.

ITA Airway¡¯s five-year plan

ITA Airway¡¯s board of directors in July approved the carrier¡¯s 2026-2030 business plan, which includes further integration with the Lufthansa Group, the introduction of new intercontinental routes and continued fleet renewal.

The carrier said its ¡°operational and strategic synergies¡± with the Lufthansa Group will be ¡°progressively strengthened¡± over the next five years. The plan also foresees full integration into Star Alliance from ¡°early 2026¡±, along with additional joint venture agreements for flights between Europe and both Japan and North America.

According to a statement, the carrier plans to introduce new routes connecting Rome Fiumicino with destinations in North America, South America, Asia and Africa, as well as route expansion within Europe.

From 2026, ITA also intends to add a new long-haul aircraft to its fleet each year for the next five years, gradually retiring older models. The fleet is expected to comprise around 100 new-generation aircraft by 2030.

Commenting on the business plan, ITA Airways president Sandro Pappalardo, said: ¡°We are laying the groundwork to continue being Italy¡¯s reference carrier with a strategic role in the national economic system and to increase connectivity with the rest of the world.¡±