The integration of Ita Airways into Lufthansa will also impact cargo transport. This was confirmed by the CEO of Lufthansa Group during a press conference held in Rome on 3 February 2025, where he provided an update on the acquisition of a 41% stake in the Italian airline. He announced that Ita Airways Cargo – which operates using belly freight as it does not have dedicated cargo aircraft – will be fully integrated into the Lufthansa Cargo network. The logistical focus will shift from Malpensa to Fiumicino, while shipments from northern Italy will be transported by road to Munich.
The latest official data on Ita Airways' cargo transport, from 2023, indicates a volume of 73,374 tonnes, compared to Malpensa's total freight handling of 731,640 tonnes in 2024. It remains to be seen how much of this cargo will depart from Fiumicino, which handled 271,580 tonnes in 2024, and how much will instead be transported by road to Munich.
Meanwhile, at the Roman airport, Swissport has lost the tender for ground handling operations. Its activities are expected to be taken over by AirPort Handling, Avia Partner, and Aviation Services, which will permanently absorb the 1,800 employees while maintaining current salary levels. According to some reports, in the future, Lufthansa and Ita Airways may consider managing ground services independently.
