Lufthansa Cargo opens Rome hub with first ITA Airways shipments

Lufthansa Cargo has officially launched operations through its newest European hub in Rome, marking a strategic expansion of its global air freight network. On 17 June 2025, four ITA Airways flights—originating from Buenos Aires (AZ 681), São Paulo (AZ 675 and AZ 679), and Rio de Janeiro (AZ 673)—landed at Rome-Fiumicino Airport (FCO) carrying shipments marketed and managed under Lufthansa Cargo’s air waybill prefix.

This milestone represents the first operational phase of a broader partnership between Lufthansa Cargo and ITA Airways. For now, the cooperation covers bellyhold cargo capacity from selected South American destinations to Rome. Rome thus becomes Lufthansa Cargo’s fifth cargo hub in Europe, joining Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, and Brussels.

The flights were welcomed by representatives from Lufthansa Cargo and Aeroporti di Roma, underscoring the strategic importance of this new hub. As part of the initial rollout, Lufthansa Cargo customers will benefit from increased flexibility, enhanced capacity, and additional routing options via the Rome hub, connected to a wide-reaching global route network.

Pending final regulatory approvals, the scope of the partnership will expand to include freight capacity across ITA Airways’ entire intercontinental and continental flight network, making Lufthansa Cargo’s offerings even more extensive.

One of the first customers to benefit from the new routes was JAS Worldwide, a global logistics provider and long-time Lufthansa Cargo partner. Notably, JAS booked the “Sustainable Choice” add-on service for their shipment—an initiative that offsets CO₂ emissions through the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). This booking reflects the growing interest among shippers in sustainable logistics solutions. Since 2025, Lufthansa Cargo has made this add-on available across both freighter and bellyhold capacities, offering measurable emissions reductions.

With the launch of its Rome hub, Lufthansa Cargo reinforces its strategy of building a more resilient and sustainable logistics network while strengthening its presence in Southern Europe. The collaboration with ITA Airways adds important capacity on transatlantic routes and positions Rome as a rising logistics hub in global air cargo.