ITA, United Gain DOT Approval for Codeshare Agreement

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has approved a reciprocal codeshare agreement between ITA Airways and United Airlines, granting both carriers blanket authorization to sell seats on each other’s flights between the U.S., Italy, and beyond.

The deal marks a major step in ITA’s transition from SkyTeam to Star Alliance in 2026, following its acquisition by Lufthansa Group. Under the agreement, ITA will place its AZ code on United-operated transatlantic routes and onward U.S. domestic services from key hubs such as Chicago, San Francisco, Washington Dulles, and Los Angeles. United will add its UA code to ITA flights between Italy and the U.S., as well as to selected intra-European and third-country services.

The partnership mirrors ITA’s recently approved codeshare with Air Canada, further strengthening its links with Star Alliance founding members ahead of full membership.

Competition in the U.S.–Italy market is intense, with ITA holding a 16% share and offering 33,766 weekly two-way seats, according to OAG data for the week of August 11, 2025. Delta Air Lines leads with 27.3%, followed by United at 22.4% and American Airlines at 20.4%.

United currently operates 11 U.S.–Italy routes, including services to Rome, Milan, Naples, Palermo, and Venice from hubs such as Newark, Chicago, and Washington Dulles. ITA serves seven U.S. destinations from Rome, but has yet to enter several major United hubs including Denver and Houston.

The DOT approval paves the way for deeper cooperation, expanded schedules, and increased connectivity for travelers on both sides of the Atlantic.

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