New ITA Airways CEO Joerg Eberhart said Monday that the carrier is set for a year of consolidation ahead of growth in the 2026-2027 period during a news conference with Lufthansa's chiefs after the tie-up with the German airline.
    "We are working on business plans and budgets and last year's budget, so there is plenty of work to do," said Eberhart.
    "Now we will have to make the plan which will provide, after a year of consolidation in 2025, growth in 2026 and 2027, especially on long haul, with opportunities for new employment.
    "This year will be one of consolidation, so lots of new hires are not expected, there will be something linked to the replacement of retirements, but the numbers will be quite low, while from '26, '27 and '28 we are expecting new hires".
    He added that the ITA may well look to bring back former Alitalia workers.
    Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr, meanwhile, said he was confident that ITA would make a profit this year.
    "We are convinced that, with the start of the merger of ITA Airways into the Lufthansa Group today, a joint success story begins for customers, employees and the shareholders of ITA Airways and the Lufthansa Group," Spohr said.
    "Now that ITA Airways became a member of our airline family a few days ago, we want to quickly move forward with the merger, so that ITA and its passengers, as well as guests of our other passenger airlines, can quickly benefit from the advantages of an expanded Lufthansa Group".

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