ITA Airways to Return to London Heathrow in 2026

ITA Airways has been working hard to affirm itself on the international aviation market. Although only a few years have passed since its launch from the ashes of Alitalia, massive changes have been made. The airline is in a much healthier financial status and is now planning to expand its international reach. However, its European network has one big issue: it doesn’t serve the continent’s busiest airport, London Heathrow. That though is going to change in 2026.

ITA’s Heathrow Comeback Supported by Lufthansa

ITA Airways, in what is arguably the airline’s biggest mistake since its launch, wasn’t able to retain its slots and London Heathrow airport. For that reason the Italian national carrier has been only operating flights to London City airport since March 30th 2024.

While it makes a lot of sense to fly to London City Airport from Milan Linate, because they are both airports serving the financial and fashion districts of the cities that isn’t the case for Rome Fiumicino.

In most cases passengers flying ITA Airways to London from Rome Fiumicino are either leisure, connecting or not doing business in the London financial district of Canary Wharf. Therefore it is a con for ITA Airways’ operations in Rome Fiumicino, particularly considering the airline has its eyes on offering connecting flight solutions from its primary hub in Rome.

That however is soon to change with Lufthansa offering a helping hand. In 2026 Lufthansa will be passing down to ITA Airways 2 daily slots at London Heathrow allowing the carrier to resume operations from and to Rome Fiumicino.

ITA Airways will therefore return to Europe’s busiest airport following a 2 year imposed hiatus.

Summer 2026 Network Expansion

ITA will also be expanding the number of destinations served in 2026 along with returning to London Heathrow. The Lufthansa Group has teased that ITA Airways will be launching more European flights to:

• Greece
• Spain
• Italian islands

However, despite it not being stated in the press release, the most ambitious plans for ITA Airways involve launching more long range services which are after all the biggest money-makers for full service airlines. My personal opinion is that we’ll have some news on this in the coming months and moving into 2026. I expect more operations towards the US to launch and maybe some more towards Asia. But we’ll have to wait and see for those.

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