Italian airline ITA Airways is a new member of the Lufthansa Group after the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) and Europe’s leading aviation group jointly completed the transaction.

Star Alliance has completed development of an interoperable biometric identity and identification platform that it says will significantly improve the travel experience for frequent flyer programme customers of Star Alliance member airlines.

The Lufthansa Group airlines, comprised of Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines, have announced general changes to its ticket fare structure until the end of December 2020.

Lufthansa Group has earmarked June for a resumption to “significantly more destinations” than current schedules, which have been heavily impacted by the COVID-19 travel downturn.

The Lufthansa Group is simplifying its status program and offering its customers an easier and more transparent collection system for achieving and maintaining Frequent Traveller, Senator and HON Circle levels. Loyalty towards Lufthansa Group airlines will be rewarded to a greater extent than ever before. In the future, the airlines will also be appointing their guests Frequent Traveller and Senator for life in recognition of their long-standing loyalty. All changes to the status program will apply to flights from 1 January 2021 and onwards.

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) has launched a new lounge experience at Zurich Airport’s Terminal A that features a alpine hut-like ambience. Spread over 500 square metres, the SWISS Alpine Lodge is located at the former site of the First Class Lounge in the terminal and accommodates up to 100 travellers.

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) and the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) will expand their ‘Flugzug’ (‘airtrain’) rail services, which currently operate between Zurich Airport and the SBB stations in Basel and Lugano, to further routes in the course of next year. The focus will be on connecting other major Swiss cities and tourist destinations with the SWISS route network.

Lufthansa Group Airlines has announced new flights from Frankfurt, Munich and Zurich to the capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana, following the demise of Adria Airways last week.

SWISS International Air Lines is adding Osaka, Japan and Washington DC, USA to its long-haul route network from March 2020. The new deployments come as the airline prepares to take delivery of two new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, resulting in a shift in its operation and freeing up existing Airbus A330/340 for new options.

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) has opened a redesigned Lounge Center A at Zurich Airport. The new centre, which is mainly aimed at short-haul travellers, extends to a Business and a Senator Lounge and boasts a modern zonal concept with a range of privacy options, market hall-style food areas, elegant Swiss-made furniture and clear SWISS design lines.