Press release -
Lufthansa Cargo to market cargo capacities of ITA Airways and adds Rome as its 5th hub
- Additional belly capacities to Italy from June 2025
- Gradual expansion to further regions
Starting in June 2025, Lufthansa Cargo will start marketing the cargo capacities on ITA Airways routes. With the integration of Rome (FCO) as its cargo hub in Southern Europe, the carrier is adding further routes, capacity and destinations around the globe to its dense network.
For flights starting from 16 June 2025, Lufthansa Cargo will start marketing the cargo capacity under its own AWB prefix from São Paulo (GRU), Rio de Janeiro (GIG) and Buenos Aires (EZE) to Rome. On all other routes, both airlines will initially continue to operate under two separate AWB numbers. Following regulatory approvals, Lufthansa Cargo will gradually take over the marketing of the Italian airline's belly capacities on all continental and intercontinental routes under its own AWB prefix. Overall, the global belly capacities available to Lufthansa Cargo customers will then increase by almost 20 per cent. In future, cargo customers will have access to an even denser global network, including the belly capacities marketed within the Lufthansa Group, connecting all major economic centres in Europe and the world.
“Along with our partner ITA Airways, we are excited to offer our customers even more attractive routes, additional capacities and solutions to and from Europe as well as worldwide to meet their transportation needs. The extended network further reinforces Lufthansa Cargo’s purpose of enabling global business. In addition to Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna and Brussels, Rome will be our 5th hub that will help us offer flexible and quality solutions to our customers. Our customers will benefit from even more reliable, faster connections to and from Southern Europe and avail the known Lufthansa Cargo solutions and services via Rome,“ explains Ashwin Bhat, CEO of Lufthansa Cargo.
Joerg Eberhart, CEO and General Manager of ITA Airways, says: “We are excited to dive into the synergies with the Lufthansa Group in the cargo sector. Thanks to the extensive Lufthansa Group fleet, combined with ITA Airways capacity, our customers will benefit from an enhanced service and a broader network, leveraging the destinations offered by the Group and exploiting the high potential of Fiumicino, our hub.“
ITA Airways has officially been part of the Lufthansa Group since the beginning of the year. The Group initially acquired a 41 percent stake in the Italian airline, with the aim of acquiring further shares. ITA Airways' modern, environmentally friendly Airbus fleet currently includes 99 aircraft, including 22 long-haul aircraft of the type Airbus A350-900, Airbus A330-900neo and A330-200. ITA Airways flies to around 70 destinations around the world.
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ITA Airways
ITA Airways is the Italian reference carrier. The Company is 59% owned by the Ministry of Economy and Finance and 41% by Deutsche Lufthansa AG. ITA Airways operates both passenger and cargo air transport services, providing Italy with high-quality connectivity to international destinations, supporting tourism and foreign trade, as well as domestic connectivity within the Country, also leveraging integrated mobility.
Through strong digitization of processes to ensure the best possible experience and personalized services, ITA Airways places customer service at the core of its strategy. This is combined with a commitment to sustainability, which encompasses environmental aspects (such as a young, technologically advanced fleet to reduce environmental impact), social aspects (a strong focus on its employees and the communities in which it operates), and governance aspects (integrating sustainability into internal strategies and processes).
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Lufthansa Cargo
Lufthansa Cargo is one of the world's leading cargo airlines and part of the Lufthansa Group, Europe's largest airline group. Through its four cargo hubs in Frankfurt, Munich, Brussels and Vienna, the airfreight specialist transports an average of 2,500 tons of freight per day. This is based on a strong and reliable airport-to-airport network that covers some 350 destinations in more than 100 countries. Lufthansa Cargo markets the cargo capacities of the passenger aircraft of Lufthansa Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Discover Airlines and SunExpress, as well as its own freighter fleet of 18 Boeing 777F and four Airbus A321F. In addition, some 300 trucks operate daily under a Lufthansa Cargo flight number. Together with its subsidiaries, Lufthansa Cargo offers customized, fast and efficient logistics solutions along the entire supply chain. In this way, the company fulfills its mission "Enabling Global Business" and connects markets and trading partners worldwide. Innovative technologies and investments in sustainability play a central role. In addition to a modern fleet and the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), the focus is on continuous optimization of flight operations. In 2024, the company generated revenues of 3.26 billion euros and a transport performance of 8.5 billion freight tonne-kilometers. It currently employs approximately 4,200 people worldwide.
