• In an interview with Italian national paper, Corriere della Sera, CEO of ITA Airways has stated that the Lufthansa-backed carrier is targeting a profit in 2026 and 2027 amid soaring jet fuel prices.
• The interview confirmed the carrier is preparing to expand its South American market, with Caracas and Lima set to rival Emirates’ reported plans for Peru via Milan.
• Joerg Eberhart told Corriere della Sera that ITA is currently undergoing a transformational phase as its third quarter went well.

Speaking to Corriere della Sera (CSD), the CEO of ITA Airways has stated that Italy’s primary airline, run by the Economy Ministry alongside the Lufthansa group is targeting a ‘small’ operating profit to close 2026, alongside profit in 2027.

This comes with the backdrop of soaring fuel costs that have doubled for the carrier this year, and ITA’s request for the EU to level the playing field.

“The situation certainly justifies a joint request to Brussels to create a level playing field. We cannot be at a disadvantage as European companies compared with those coming from outside. That is the first step. The second is that the taxes we pay must be available to support the sector in an emergency. It is not acceptable that we end up financing part of the infrastructure outside the sector,” Joerg Eberhart, CEO of ITA Airways told Corriere della Sera.

The interview also confirmed the carrier is preparing to expand its South American market, with Caracas and Lima set to rival Emirates’ reported plans for Peru via Milan.

Lufthansa has been reported by CSD to be targeting an increase in its stake to 90 percent, after having already agreed with the Portuguese government to be planning to acquire a significant stake in TAP Air Portugal.

For the full story covering Lufthansa group and TAP Air Portugal follow the link here.

This comes as the carrier’s chief has revealed it plans 226 voluntary exits and 400 hires with a net personnel gain of 174.

According to the interview with CSD, Eberhart has described the current period as a transformational phase for the company. Further ahead, 2028-2029, ITA will be looking the other way, after targeting transatlantic, it has confirmed it is looking towards Asia.

“We are looking at Asia. When you build a long-haul network, one part has to go west and the other east, in order to achieve a certain productivity from the aircraft,” Eberhart stated when asked by Corriere della Sera about ITA’s plans for 2028-2029.

For the full interview with Corriere della Sera, follow the link here.

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