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DALLAS — ITA Airways (AZ) has officially received approval to start the integration process into Star Alliance, the world’s first and largest airline alliance.
The Star Alliance Chief Executive Board (CEB) decision follows AZ’s induction into the Lufthansa Group earlier this year and positions the airline to become a full alliance member by early 2026. As part of its transition, the Lufthansa Group will mentor AZ during the integration process.
Star Alliance members include Lufthansa (LH), United Airlines (UA), Singapore Airlines (SQ), Turkish Airlines (TK), and others. They offer 17,500 daily flights to 1,150 destinations across 189 countries.
ITA Airways is Italy's flagship airline, which is 59% owned by Italy’s Ministry of Economy and Finance and 41% by Deutsche Lufthansa AG. Once fully integrated, AZ will become the 26th member of Star Alliance, adding 360 daily flights and expanding the network to more than 18,000 daily flights across 192 countries.
Star Alliance CEO Theo Panagiotoulias welcomed the decision, highlighting AZ's strategic role as a gateway to Italy and its potential to enhance the global network. “This decision underscores the confidence our members have in ITA Airways,” he stated, adding that the airline will provide seamless, connected journeys to more travelers worldwide.
ITA Airways CEO Joerg Eberhart shared the enthusiasm, highlighting the airline’s dedication to delivering "Made in Italy" excellence to the alliance. He mentioned that this membership represents a significant milestone in the airline’s growth, assuring customers of improved connectivity and exclusive travel benefits.
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Exploring Airline History Volume I
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David H. Stringer, the History Editor for AIRWAYS Magazine, has chronicled the story of the commercial aviation industry with his airline history articles that have appeared in AIRWAYS over two decades. Here, for the first time, is a compilation of those articles.
Subjects A through C are presented in this first of three volumes. Covering topics such as the airlines of Alaska at the time of statehood and Canada's regional airlines of the 1960s, the individual histories of such carriers as Allegheny, American, Braniff, and Continental are also included in Volume One. Get your copy today!
May 2025
