All Nippon Airways and ITA Airways Announce Codeshare Agreement

In an exciting development for travelers between Japan and Italy, All Nippon Airways (ANA) and ITA Airways have come together to forge a powerful cross-alliance codeshare partnership. This collaboration, which took effect on January 24th, promises to enhance connectivity between their respective networks and open up a world of new possibilities for travelers.

Under this agreement, ANA will place its NH code on ITA Airways’ flights between Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) and Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND). Presently, this route is serviced five times a week, utilizing Airbus A350-900 aircraft. Additionally, the codeshare extends to five domestic routes within Italy, spanning from FCO to Bologna, Florence, Naples, Turin, and Venice.

In reciprocation, ITA Airways will add its AZ code to six domestic destinations in Japan, all departing from HND and operated by ANA. These destinations encompass Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Itami, Kansai, Okinawa, and Sapporo.

Both airlines express their intention to explore the possibility of expanding their partnership in the near future. They believe that this agreement will not only strengthen economic and commercial ties between Italy and Japan but also make it easier for Italian tourists to explore the wonders of Japan and for Japanese citizens to visit Italy.

Notably, ANA had previously maintained a codeshare agreement with ITA Airways’ predecessor, Alitalia, which ran successfully for three years until October 2021 when Alitalia ceased operations. While ITA Airways is currently a member of SkyTeam, it is expected to join the Star Alliance once Lufthansa completes its takeover of the airline.

Recent reports confirm that Lufthansa has submitted concessions to the European Commission (EC) in an effort to secure approval for the acquisition. Local Italian media speculate that this may involve relinquishing certain slots in Milan as part of the deal.

The EC has until the January 29th deadline to decide whether to greenlight the merger or proceed with a more in-depth phase-two investigation. Lufthansa aims to acquire an initial 41% stake in ITA Airways, with the option to acquire the remaining shares at a later date, as per the agreement reached with the Italian government. Stay tuned for further developments in this dynamic aviation landscape.