Employee representatives deem the 2026–2030 strategy insufficient and demand new employment contracts.
Unions representing ITA Airways employees have threatened to strike in response to the airline’s 2026–2030 business plan. According to reports in the Italian media, the unions described the growth strategy as “completely inadequate.”
The company’s plan foresees gradually expanding the fleet to around 100 aircraft and introducing one long-haul aircraft each year for intercontinental routes. However, the unions argue that this strategy falls short in the face of the growing global aviation market.
Demand for a new employment contract
The unions also call for an extension of the current employment contract, which expires in December 2024. In a statement, they emphasized that the existing conditions for flight and ground staff are “no longer sustainable.”
Recent talks between the company’s management and the unions failed to reach any agreement. Both sides have now initiated a “cooling-off period.”
Impact of Lufthansa and the Italian government
ITA Airways is 59% owned by the Italian Ministry of Economy and 41% by Lufthansa. According to media reports, Lufthansa is preparing to increase its stake.
ITA Airways CEO Jörg Eberhart previously stated that the company must first reach the break-even point and remain committed to a sustainable growth strategy. ITA Airways continues to operate at a loss.
