The first ITA Airways flight carrying Lufthansa Cargo shipments on board has arrived in Rome, marking the carrier's first inbound shipment from South America to its new European hub.

Lufthansa Cargo said its latest cooperation with ITA Airways reached its first operational milestone on June 16, when four aircraft of the Italian airline took off for Rome-Fiumicino (FCO) from Buenos Aires (EZE, flight number AZ 681), São Paulo (GRU, flight number AZ 675 and AZ 679) and Rio de Janeiro (GIG, flight number AZ 673) with shipments marketed and managed by Lufthansa Cargo.

They landed there early in the morning on June 17, 2025, and were welcomed by Lufthansa Cargo and a delegation from Aeroporti di Roma.

In the first step of the cooperation, Lufthansa Cargo will initially market freight capacity in the bellyhold of ITA Airways flights from Buenos Aires (EZE), São Paulo (GRU) and Rio de Janeiro (GIG) to Rome under its own AWB prefix.

This makes Rome the fifth cargo hub for Lufthansa Cargo in Europe, alongside Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna and Brussels.

Following all regulatory approvals, Lufthansa Cargo will gradually expand the marketing of ITA Airways' freight capacity to all continental and intercontinental routes.

Lufthansa Cargo noted that the increased capacity and additional transport solutions to and from Southern Europe and worldwide via the Rome hub, which is connected to a broad global route network, offering flexibility and reliable services for freight transport.

The cargo carrier noted that its customer, Atlanta-based JAS Worldwide, has already taken advantage of the new routes and also booked the 'Sustainable Choice' add-on service on the first flight with ITA Airways to reduce their CO2 footprint with Sustainable Aviation Fuel.

"Since the beginning of the year, the add-on service can be booked online not only for cargo aircraft but also for all belly capacities marketed by Lufthansa Cargo, enabling direct and verifiable reductions in CO2 emissions during the transport process," Lufthansa said in the announcement.