The executives of the German aviation group Lufthansa are in Rome for a series of meetings with the managers of the ITA Airways airline and with government representatives. Among the topics on the agenda there will be discussions on the airline's financial situation, on the network of air connections and on human resources, with the issue of former Alitalia workers not reabsorbed by the new national airline.

According to rumors released by the newspaper "La Repubblica", Lufthansa's plan for the revitalization of ITA Airways would be the following: greater presence on the North American market (in partnership with United Airlines); integration with the airlines controlled by the German Group (Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Swiss Air Lines, Eurowings); strengthening in the cargo sector (particularly towards Asia); savings in the purchase of fuel.

In case of success of the negotiation between Lufthansa and the Ministry of Economy and Finance (Mef), ITA Airways would leave the current international Sky Team alliance to join Star Alliance: here code-sharing initiatives would be activated with companies controlled by Lufthansa and its partners; moreover, the Italian air carrier would be dragged into the thriving market of air connections between Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Belgium. 

The synergies would also continue on the cargo business, with the consolidation of the Milan-Malpensa airport as an international hub for freight transport, thanks to an alliance between Lufthansa and Cathay Pacific, which allows Hong Kong to be directly connected with 15 European airports. 

On the matter see also the article published by AVIONEWS.