ITA CEO calls for pause on EU carbon costs as it targets operating profits

Speaking to Corriere della Sera (CSD), the CEO of ITA Airways has stated that Italy’s primary airline, run by the Economy Ministry alongside the Lufthansa group is targeting a ‘small’ operating profit to close 2026, alongside profit in 2027.

This comes with the backdrop of soaring fuel costs that have doubled for the carrier this year, and ITA’s request for the EU to level the playing field.

“The situation certainly justifies a joint request to Brussels to create a level playing field. We cannot be at a disadvantage as European companies compared with those coming from outside. That is the first step. The second is that the taxes we pay must be available to support the sector in an emergency. It is not acceptable that we end up financing part of the infrastructure outside the sector,” Joerg Eberhart, CEO of ITA Airways told Corriere della Sera.

The interview also confirmed the carrier is preparing to expand its South American market, with Caracas and Lima set to rival Emirates’ reported plans for Peru via Milan.

This story was originally published by Air Cargo Week. Read the full story at Air Cargo Week →