Ita Airways, in 2024 the first positive operational result arrives. CEO Eberhart: « The budget draw is not a mirage »

Ita Airways, the main Italian airline, closed 2024 with over three billion euros in turnover and an operating result which, for the first time in its history – and for years if Alitalia has also been included – has closed positively. The net result, i.e. the last line of the budget, remains in red due to the euro-dollaro unfavorable exchange rate which has had an impact on the cost items that are accounted for in the US currency. This is what the CEO of Ita, Joerg Eberhart, explained, during a press point with some journalists after the approval of the accounts by the Board of Directors.

The beginning of the year

2025, added the CEO – in office since 17 January, when the Lufthansa group entered 41% – began with a first quarter that saw the revenues break through the 600 million euros (+15% on the same period of the previous year), of which more than half from intercontinental flights, 3.7 million travelers and a filling rate of 81%. In the coming weeks, in addition to the definition of the new industrial plan – which will see an increase in long -range routes – the carrier will try to increase connectivity towards the hub of Fiumicino through commercial agreements with smaller aviolinees that can « feed » long ray planes of Ita.

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« These good results are the result of the work of over five thousand employees, » commented Sandro Pappalardo, president of Ita Airways. Staff who, added Eberhart, « contributed decisively in the complex transition from the start -up phase to that of development and consolidation of the company’s operational activities. Based on this solid result, it is plausible to also achieve a sustainable draw of the net result thanks to the synergies with the Lufthansa group ».

The balance of 2024

In detail, in 2024 ITA – when it was still in the management of the Ministry of Economy – saw the turnover go up to 3.1 billion euros (+26% on 2023), with a positive Ebitda for 337 million and an EBIT with a more sign (3 million). The net result marks -227 million, against -5 million of the previous year, as a result -as the financial director Claudio Faggiani specified -of the euro/dollar gearbox which saw increases of 90 million on the payment of the leasing of the planes and another 150 million negative of revaluation of the overall debt for the rental of jets.

The weight of the intercontinental

The past year Ita transported 17.7 million passengers (+19% on 2023) which led to the turnover from the transport of travelers – also including extra costs such as the choice of the place, the upgrade and luggage – equal to 2.72 billion euros (+26%). Of these 1.36 billion invoiced on intercontinental flights, 770 on national ones and 590 million on international ones. The 99 fleet planes had an average 81%filling rate.

The forecasts for this year

The first numbers of 2025 – the result of the period from January to March, the one where companies usually lose a lot of money – they bode well. So much so that, added to the internal data of the second quarter « and net of all the current and possible uncertainties in the second half of the year », CEO Eberhart is said to be optimistic about the fact that Ita could also aspire to the balance sheet. The net debt of the company as of 31 December was approximately 2.4 billion euros.

The target of 8% of the ebit margin

The manager – with a past of head of Air Dolomiti and head of the strategies of the Lufthansa group – recalled that the goal also for Ita is that set for all the vectors of the European giant of heaven: get to have an EBIT margin of at least 8% per year. « It is with this fact that an airline can grow and make investments. » Eberhart has also added that the tricolor Aviolinea must increase its market share in its Fiumicino hub, « climbing from the current 15 to 30% » by 2030.

The regularity of flights

The CEO then remarked the fact that Ita was set for the qualitative objectives of the service, citing the punctuality data (87.82%) and regularity (99.57%) of the flights of the Italian Company in the first quarter of this year, « numbers that place it third in Europe, but it is also the only one to always be at the top of the rankings ». Eberhart then recalled that it takes 12-18 months, from sending the request, to have the ok of the North American regulatory authorities at the entrance of Ita in the Joint Venture Transatlantic A ++ that the Lufthansa group has with United Airlines and Air Canada.

The future of Alitalia

The reasoning on the fate of the Alitalia brand continue – which Ita purchased for 90 million euros from the commissioners of the former flag carrier -, perhaps with a different positioning between short and long flights. « We would like to relaunch the brand in the right way, » Eberhart commented. Which also anticipated the intention of opening a foundation/museum dedicated to Alitalia for enhancement even more the historical brand.

The synergies with Lufthansa

As for the integration in stages with Lufthansa, Lorenza Maggio – the member of the Board of Directors and Chief Strategy and Integration Officer of Ita – has pitted the first positive synergies, although partial given that the main effects still have to make themselves heard: over 70 thousand codeshare tickets sold (which will bring additional revenues expected of over 20 million euros in 2025).