Lufthansa Group and All Nippon Airways plan to add ITA Airways to their Europe–Japan joint venture in autumn 2026. The move will bring Rome into a partnership that already connects travellers through several European hubs. It could give passengers more ways to combine flights between Japan, Italy and destinations farther across Europe.
ITA Airways operates a daily nonstop service between Rome Fiumicino and Tokyo Haneda. Under the announced arrangement, customers of ANA, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines and SWISS will be able to book that flight alongside partner services. The airlines plan to introduce the joint offer in stages and inform customers when booking options become available.
The agreement matters for tourism because Rome offers a different gateway for Japan-bound travellers. Visitors arriving from Japan could connect through the Italian capital to other parts of Italy, Southern Europe and the Mediterranean. Travellers heading the other way could use ANA’s domestic network after reaching Tokyo.
The expansion was announced in June, with implementation planned for autumn. Passengers should check current booking options before assuming a particular combination of flights is available.
Rome Adds Another Europe–Japan Gateway
The existing joint venture brings together ANA, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines and SWISS. ITA Airways’ entry adds its Rome–Tokyo route and European connecting network to that cooperation.
Rome Fiumicino is central to the plan. A passenger starting elsewhere in Italy could connect through Rome before flying to Tokyo. Likewise, someone arriving from Japan could continue to another Italian destination on an ITA Airways service.
Lufthansa Group says ITA Airways’ network also creates connection possibilities across Southern Europe and North Africa. Actual journey times will depend on the route, flight dates and connection selected.
The partnership already covers ANA’s Tokyo Haneda–Milan Malpensa service. Adding Rome creates another Italian arrival and departure point within the joint venture, widening the choices available to travellers.
What the Partnership Means for Passengers
An airline joint venture allows participating carriers to coordinate parts of their commercial offering. That can include scheduling flights to spread departure times and building journeys across more than one airline.
For passengers, the useful change is the ability to compare connections through different hubs. A traveller may find that Rome suits an itinerary better than another European transfer point. Someone visiting several countries could also consider flights involving more than one partner carrier.
Lufthansa Group says the expanded venture will offer 160 weekly long-haul flights between Europe and Japan. That figure describes the partnership’s combined choice of services. It does not mean 160 new flights are being launched.
The airlines also plan to recognise relevant tickets and loyalty benefits across the arrangement. Travellers should check the conditions attached to their fare, operating airline and membership before booking.
Japan Routes Approach the Winter Timetable
The partnership expansion comes as travellers begin comparing services beyond the current summer schedule. Lufthansa’s published Japan timetable lists Frankfurt–Tokyo Haneda and Munich–Tokyo Haneda services through 24 October 2026. It also lists Munich–Osaka Kansai flights during that period.
That published schedule does not establish what every route will operate during the following winter season. Flight times, frequencies and aircraft can change when airlines update their timetables.
Passengers planning late October or later departures should check the dates shown during booking. They should also confirm the operating airline for every flight, especially when an itinerary includes a partner connection.
For longer journeys, connection time matters as much as the number of available routes. Travellers should review baggage arrangements and airport transfer details before choosing flights involving multiple carriers.
More Connections Could Support Tourism
Europe–Japan air services carry visitors in both directions. Japan-bound travellers may use major cities as starting points for wider journeys. Visitors heading to Europe may combine Italy with other destinations on one trip.
Additional connection choices can help tourism businesses reach those travellers. Hotels, attractions and local transport providers benefit when visitors can build workable itineraries and reach destinations beyond a single gateway.
The announced agreement creates that potential, but it does not establish a rise in visitor numbers or tourism spending. Those outcomes would require later booking, passenger or official tourism data.
The clearest immediate development is ITA Airways’ planned entry into an established airline partnership. Its Rome–Tokyo service will give the participating carriers another way to assemble Europe–Japan journeys as the autumn rollout proceeds.
For travellers, the next step is practical: compare available flights, check who operates each sector and verify the current winter schedule before committing to an itinerary.
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