On 30 April 2025, ITA officially pulled out of the SkyTeam alliance, cutting ties with its global network of carriers. Despite this, certain online travel agents and airline partners haven’t updated their systems, and still show SkyTeam logos or promise perks that no longer exist. If you book through one of those, manage your expectations – your elite status likely won’t get you lounge access, priority boarding, or bonus miles. And if you’re hoping to earn points, don’t expect them to land where you want.
ITA Airways has now left SkyTeam in practice, not just on paper. It’s no longer part of any alliance, though it’s expected to join Star Alliance by 2026. Lufthansa now owns 41% of the airline, and ITA plans to shift more operations to Frankfurt and Munich from March 2025. That includes tighter cooperation with Lufthansa Group airlines and a gradual move towards their Miles & More loyalty programme. The idea is to give frequent flyers a more reliable way to earn, burn and enjoy elite perks – something that never really worked under SkyTeam.
ITA’s Volare loyalty scheme now operates in solo mode. You can still earn and redeem on ITA flights, but not on other airlines. If your booking still shows SkyTeam, and you can’t change the frequent flyer number, credit the points to ITA Volare. There’s a decent chance that Volare balances will merge into Miles & More once integration is complete, although no official announcement confirms this yet. Better safe than stuck with stranded points.
This shift away from SkyTeam clears the way for a more structured and rewarding future under Lufthansa’s wing. ITA plans to roll out better route alignment, improved status recognition, and a tighter network across Europe, North America, and Asia. Lounge access and codeshares should eventually improve – just not yet.
For now, treat ITA as independent. Check lounge access rules before flying. Skip booking engines that still label it as SkyTeam unless you’re willing to gamble. With the messier SkyTeam ties now cut, ITA Airways has now left SkyTeam, and it might finally be on track to become a serious European player.
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