United, Air Canada Push ITA Airways into Transatlantic Alliance

United Airlines and Air Canada have formally requested approval from the US Department of Transportation (DOT) to add ITA Airways to the transatlantic A++ joint venture (JV), which currently includes United, Air Canada, and the Lufthansa Group.

The goal is to integrate ITA Airways into the coordinated alliance for transatlantic flights.

ITA Airways, Italy’s flagship carrier formed from Alitalia’s assets in 2020, is currently being integrated into the Lufthansa Group after the latter acquired a 41 percent stake earlier in 2025.

Additionally, Lufthansa is negotiating to increase its ownership in ITA Airways to 90 percent.

The JV between Lufthansa, United, and Air Canada allows the airlines to coordinate schedules, fares, and revenue sharing on transatlantic routes.

Including ITA will strengthen the alliance’s position against other global competitors and provide greater connectivity across North America, Italy, and other European hubs.

Before the official JV request, ITA Airways and Air Canada expanded their codeshare agreement in July 2025, while United and ITA launched a loyalty partnership in September 2025, allowing members of both airlines’ frequent flyer programs to earn and redeem points reciprocally.

Photo by Aron Marinelli on Unsplash