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Top Airlines in Italy: A Complete Guide to Italian Carriers
AviationOutlook
January 08, 2026 • Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes
The Italian aviation sector has undergone a significant transformation in recent years.
With the transition from Alitalia to ITA Airways and the emergence of new regional players, the country’s airline industry now offers diverse options for both domestic and international travel.
Here’s your comprehensive breakdown of top airlines in Italy, from flag carriers to specialized cargo operators.
Also Read:
Table of Contents
1. ITA Airways
ITA Airways stands as Italy’s national flag carrier, having officially replaced Alitalia in October 2021.
The state-owned airline operates over 70 scheduled destinations across domestic, European, and intercontinental routes. Based at Rome Fiumicino Airport with a secondary hub at Milan Linate, ITA Airways currently flies a fleet of approximately 101 aircraft.
A major development came in early 2025 when the Lufthansa Group finalized a 41 percent stake in the airline. The Italian government, through the Ministry of Economy and Finance, retains the remaining 59 percent ownership.
ITA Airways exited SkyTeam by April 30, 2025, and is scheduled to join Star Alliance in early 2026 as part of its integration with Lufthansa. The airline’s Board of Directors approved a comprehensive 2026-2030 business plan in July 2025, focusing on long-haul network expansion and fleet modernization.
Fleet Size: 101 aircraft
Main Hubs: Rome Fiumicino (FCO), Milan Linate (LIN)
Alliance: Star Alliance (from 2026)
Ownership: Italian Government (59%), Lufthansa Group (41%)
2. Neos
Neos operates as Italy’s premier leisure airline, specializing in charter and scheduled flights to holiday destinations worldwide.
Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Somma Lombardo, Lombardy, Neos is a subsidiary of Alpitour S.p.A. The airline operates a modern fleet of Boeing 737 and Boeing 787 aircraft, with approximately 16 planes in service.
Based at Milan Malpensa Airport, Neos serves destinations across the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Maldives, and the Americas. The carrier has expanded its transatlantic operations, with plans to double its Bari-New York flights in 2026 following successful service launch in June 2025.
The airline maintains a reputation for attentive cabin service and focuses primarily on leisure travel markets. Neos operates both charter services for tour operators and scheduled flights for individual travelers.
Fleet Size: 16 aircraft
Main Hub: Milan Malpensa (MXP)
Specialty: Leisure/charter flights
Parent Company: Alpitour S.p.A.
3. AeroItalia
AeroItalia represents one of Italy’s newer airline ventures, offering both charter and scheduled passenger services.
The carrier operates from three Italian bases: Rome Fiumicino Airport, Comiso Airport in Sicily, and Milan Bergamo Airport. With a fleet of approximately 14 aircraft, AeroItalia has been expanding its network across European and Mediterranean destinations.
The airline faced legal challenges regarding its branding. Following a court ruling, AeroItalia lost a legal battle with ITA Airways over brand similarities and was subsequently forced to rebrand as “Air Italy” in late 2025. This represents a different entity from the Air Italy that ceased operations in 2020.
AeroItalia has expressed ambitions to grow its fleet to 25 aircraft by 2027 and potentially join the SkyTeam alliance in the future as ITA Airways moves to Star Alliance.
Fleet Size: 14 aircraft
Operating Bases: Rome Fiumicino, Comiso, Milan Bergamo
IATA Code: XZ
Status: Rebranded as Air Italy (2025)
4. Air Dolomiti
Air Dolomiti serves as a key regional carrier connecting Northern Italy with German and European destinations.
The airline is wholly owned by Lufthansa and operates as a member of Lufthansa Regional. Headquartered in Dossobuono, Villafranca di Verona, Air Dolomiti maintains its main base at Verona Villafranca Airport while also operating extensively from Munich and Frankfurt airports.
With a fleet of approximately 25 aircraft, Air Dolomiti holds a 4-Star Airline rating from Skytrax for the quality of its airport and onboard services. The carrier focuses on regional connectivity and frequently codeshares with other Lufthansa Group airlines.
The EU’s approval of the Lufthansa-ITA Airways takeover in late 2024 is expected to see an increased operational role for Air Dolomiti within the Italian market, particularly for domestic and regional European routes.
Fleet Size: 25 aircraft
Main Base: Verona Villafranca Airport
Alliance: Star Alliance (via Lufthansa)
Rating: 4-Star Airline (Skytrax)
5. SkyAlps
SkyAlps positions itself as South Tyrol’s boutique regional airline, offering unique mountain connectivity.
Founded in 2021 and based at Bolzano Airport, SkyAlps operates an efficient fleet of 14 Bombardier Dash 8-Q400 turboprop aircraft. These modern regional planes consume approximately 2.3 liters of fuel per passenger per 100km, resulting in up to 50% emissions savings compared to other regional aircraft.
The airline has been aggressively expanding its network. In December 2025, SkyAlps launched flights to Dresden, with the route confirmed to continue through summer 2026. For summer 2025, the carrier added new destinations including Antwerp, Hannover, Kefalonia, and Menorca.
SkyAlps currently serves 8 domestic and 19 international destinations across 12 countries. The airline emphasizes personalized service, comfort, and environmental responsibility through its modern, fuel-efficient fleet.
Route Category | Number of Destinations |
|---|---|
Domestic (Italy) | 8 |
International | 19 |
Total Countries Served | 12 |
6. Cargolux Italia
Cargolux Italia operates as Italy’s premier all-cargo airline, specializing in freight transportation worldwide.
Founded in December 2008 as a joint venture between Italian interests and Luxembourg-based Cargolux Airlines International, the company is based at Milan Malpensa Airport. Operating a fleet of 4 Boeing 747-400F freighters, Cargolux Italia has established itself as Italy’s number one cargo carrier.
The airline celebrated its 10th anniversary with recognition as a major success story in Italian aviation. Cargolux Italia provides scheduled cargo services across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, handling diverse freight including perishables, electronics, automotive parts, and general cargo.
Recent flight tracking data from January 2026 shows the airline maintaining active operations between Milan Malpensa and Luxembourg, demonstrating consistent cargo connectivity between Italy and major European logistics hubs.
Fleet Size: 4 Boeing 747-400F freighters
Main Hub: Milan Malpensa (MXP)
Parent Company: Cargolux Airlines International
Average Fleet Age: 19.4 years
7. Poste Air Cargo
Poste Air Cargo serves as the dedicated air freight division of Italy’s national postal service.
Originally operating as Mistral Air since 1981, the carrier was rebranded as Poste Air Cargo on September 30, 2019, following its acquisition by Poste Italiane Group. The airline operates from Rome Fiumicino Airport and Brescia Airport with a fleet of 7 Boeing 737-400F cargo aircraft.
As a subsidiary of Poste Italiane, the airline specializes in mail and express cargo transportation throughout Europe and Mediterranean regions. Poste Air Cargo represents a unique model in European aviation as a postal service-owned cargo carrier.
The airline maintains regular cargo operations connecting Italian airports with key European destinations. Recent contract awards in 2024 included enhanced Boeing 737-800 training programs, demonstrating continued investment in operational excellence.
Operational Detail | Information |
|---|---|
IATA Code | M4 |
ICAO Code | MSA |
Fleet Type | Boeing 737-400F |
Primary Cargo | Mail, express packages |
My Final Thoughts
Italy’s airline sector in 2026 reflects a balanced ecosystem spanning legacy carriers, regional specialists, leisure operators, and cargo experts.
The most significant development remains the ITA Airways transformation under Lufthansa ownership and its upcoming Star Alliance membership. This strategic shift will fundamentally alter Italy’s position within global airline alliances and create new partnership opportunities for Italian travelers and businesses.
Regional carriers like SkyAlps and Air Dolomiti fill critical connectivity gaps, particularly in Northern Italy and mountain regions where larger aircraft cannot efficiently operate. Their focus on fuel-efficient turboprops and regional jets demonstrates how specialized equipment meets specific market needs.
The cargo segment, represented by Cargolux Italia and Poste Air Cargo, highlights Italy’s importance as a European logistics hub. These carriers support the country’s manufacturing and export sectors with dedicated freight capacity independent of passenger operations.
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