The first question that popped into mind when the EU commision gave the green light to Lufthansa taking over ITA Airways was, what will be of the Volare frequent flyer program? Volare has been ITA’s loyalty program since the airline was founded and will continue to be such at least for some time more.
- Volare Frequent Flyer Program Extended Unitil the end of 2025
- What will happen after 2025? (my opinion)
Update December 18, 2025: Volare Loyalty Programme Extended Until April 30, 2026
Last year, ITA Airways had already extended the validity of its Volare frequent flyer programme. However, while the extension last year was for 12 months, this year’s extension is significantly shorter.
The news was announced by ITA Airways on December 18, 2025. The Italian airline’s loyalty programme, Volare, will continue to exist until April 30, 2026.
This extension raises some questions about the program’s future beyond that date. I remain convinced that Volare will not continue to exist for much longer. In my view, the fate of Volare is sealed and it will eventually have to shut down, with Miles&More taking its place.
A move that would align ITA Airways with all other airlines within the Lufthansa Group.
Volare Frequent Flyer Program Extended Unitil the end of 2025
The italian national carrier loyalty program will continue to exist at least for another year or so. The airline has announced it will maintain its frequent flyer program at least until the end of 2025.
Therefore passengers will continue to be able to earn Volare points on ITA Airways and partner airline flights or by using the co-branded AMEX credit cards.
Tiers will continue to exist, exactly as they do right now. Threasholds won’t vary in order to to maintain the tier or move up in coming months.
But what will happen to Volare after the December 2025 deadline?
ITA Airways Volare Confirmed until the end of 2025
What ill happen to ITA Airways Frequent Flyer Program after 2025?
The fact that the airline confirmed its loyalty program means that something is brewing. I think Lufthansa would have already made some significant changes to ITA and Volare if the EU hadn’t given its green light so late the year. With an approval well into the summer season it was too late to make subastintial changes to key aspects of the business. There are two things that Lufthansa would have wanted to change and will change at the right moment in the near future in regard to ITA Airways:
- Move ITA over to the Star Alliance
- Get the italian carrier to adopt its Miles&More loyalty program
The former presumibly couldn’t happen this year as ITA’s membership renewal timings would have left too little time to get everything sorted. Therefore, I think the plan to get ITA Airways in Star Alliance has just moved to 2025. So doing the two airlines have more time to plan the SkyTeam exit strategy.
The latter is closely tied to the first reason. I am absolutely certain Lufthansa will eventually bring ITA Airways into the Miles&More frequent flyer program, but now is not the right time to do so. If ITA were to switch to Miles&More now it would cause huge compatibility problems with SkyTeam airlines and their loyalty programs. It necessarily has to take place with the order reversed.
My feeling is that in 2025 there will be another announcements at some stage. The two airlines will announce that ITA Airways’ Volare will cease to exist and that Miles&More will take its plane. Also, that ITA’s Star Alliance entry either in 2025 or 2026.