From 16JUN25 onwards, the German freight carrier will sell the lower deck capacity of ITA passenger flights from São Paulo (GRU), Rio de Janeiro (GIG), and Buenos Aires (EZE) to Rome. Transport in the opposite direction and on other ITA routes will follow in due time, subject to official approval. In addition, Lufthansa Cargo has announced important personnel decisions.
The die is cast. Since Lufthansa acquired a 41% stake in ITA earlier this year, it was unclear whether ITA Cargo would become part of Lufthansa Cargo or market the capacity of the ITA fleet on its own. Now it is clear that the first option applies. The transition of sales activities will take place gradually. This will initially affect the three routes from South America to Europe mentioned above. From mid-June, shipments booked on these routes will receive Lufthansa Cargo’s AWB 020 prefix. It replaces ITA’s 055 prefix. As soon as the authorities involved have given the green light, Lufthansa Cargo will also market the flights in the opposite direction, announces spokesperson, Katharina Stegmann. All other ITA routes will follow successively with the corresponding prefix changes. It is not yet possible to estimate when the process will be completed, due to the traffic law situation and official requirements, she states. The decision as to whether the ITA Cargo employees will become part of Lufthansa Cargo or are offered other job opportunities is also still an open issue.
Rome becomes Lufthansa Cargo’s 5th intercontinental hub
The takeover of the ITA cargo business will increase Lufthansa Cargo’s global capacity by almost 20%. With Rome Fiumicino Airport, the German freight carrier gains access to an additional international hub, its fifth after Frankfurt, Munich, Brussels, and Vienna.
“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, states: “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.”
Lufthansa Cargo completes executive board
Currently, ITA Airways operates 99 aircraft, including 22 long-haul Airbus jetliners A350-900, A330-900neo and A330-200. ITA Airways serves around 70 destinations worldwide. At the beginning of this year, the Lufthansa Group acquired a 41% stake in ITA, with the aim of substantially increasing its equity interest.
Lufthansa Cargo also recently announced key personnel decisions. Frank Bauer, currently Chief Financial Officer and Labor Director of Lufthansa Cargo AG, will take over the position of Chief Operating Officer (COO) at the freight carrier on 01JUL25. Gregor Schleussner, currently Head of Finance, Controlling & Accounting at Eurowings, will join the Executive Board of Lufthansa Cargo as the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) and Labor Director from 01JUL25.
