Days after the Lufthansa Group closed its purchase of 41% of Italy's ITA Airways, the group began the process of combining with the airline.

Lufthansa Group is ramping up efforts to integrate new member airline ITA Airways, starting with merging frequent flyer programmes.

The full integration of ITA Airways into the Lufthansa Group is already underway, with the Italian carrier also set to join Star Alliance in 2026.

Germany's Lufthansa will start making money from its investment in ITA Airways from this year, the chief executive of the German carrier, Carsten Spohr, said on Monday.

Lufthansa Group has begun integrating ITA Airways after acquiring a 41% stake, starting with loyalty programmes and moving to share codes on routes. ITA loyalty members can now earn miles on Lufthansa Group flights,

Lufthansa Group remains a minority shareholder in Italy’s national carrier, but it’s already leveraging the benefits of its 41% stake.

There is scope for further consolidation in the European airline sector, the chief executive of Germany's Lufthansa said on Monday, having just bought a 41% stake in Italy's state-owned ITA. "We have too many airlines in Europe.