Lufthansa Cargo expands Rome capacity with ITA Airways partnership

Lufthansa Cargo has begun transporting cargo under its own AWB number from Rome-Fiumicino Airport, moving more than 1,000 tonnes of freight within two weeks as the partnership with ITA Airways enters a wider phase of implementation. The expansion, effective from the start of the winter schedule on 26 October 2025, covers all global routes except those to and from the United States and Canada, which remain pending regulatory approval.

The cooperation, launched in June on flights to Rome-Fiumicino, is now almost fully rolled out. By adding new routes from Rome, Lufthansa Cargo is increasing its available belly capacity by around 20 percent. Rome-Fiumicino becomes the company’s fifth European hub alongside Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna and Brussels. Customers gain broader routing options and increased flexibility across the intercontinental network.

The new schedule offers up to 30 weekly cargo services to South America, including Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, and up to 21 weekly flights to Asia to destinations such as Bangkok, New Delhi and Tokyo-Haneda. Seasonal flights to Mauritius and Malé are also available. In addition, up to 71 weekly connections now link Rome with North Africa and the Middle East, including Algiers, Cairo, Accra, Dakar, Tunis, Dubai and Riyadh. The expanded hub also strengthens Lufthansa Cargo’s intra-European road feeder services and its continental network, tightening links with Frankfurt, Munich, Brussels and Vienna.

 Ashwin Bhat, CEO of Lufthansa Cargo, said the start of cargo shipments from Rome marks an important step for the company and its customers. He noted that the larger network, supported by a strong southern European hub, reinforces the carrier’s aim of “Enabling Global Business”.

The cooperation stems from the Lufthansa Group’s acquisition of a stake in ITA Airways. Since June, Lufthansa Cargo has been marketing ITA Airways’ cargo capacity on selected routes to strengthen the Group-wide network and stay responsive to shifting market conditions.