**A milestone for ITA under Lufthansa** In early July, ITA Airways and its representative unions reached a compromise on a new company collective agreement, linked to the renewal of the "carriers" section of Italy's national collective labor agreement for air transport (CCNL). This draft deal, which provides for an average 30% increase in total economic compensation, still needs approval from ITA Airways' board of directors and ratification by employee assemblies. After more than a year of negotiations, the airline — now 90% owned by Lufthansa since June 1, when the German group exercised an option to acquire nearly all shares, with the remainder held by the Italian Ministry of Economy — has secured a pact with unions including Filt-Cgil, Fit-Cisl, UilTrasporti, Ugl Trasporto Aereo, Anpac, and Anp. The agreement covers both the CCNL "carriers" section and the company contract, with expiry dates set for December 31, 2027, and December 31, 2028, respectively, and an explicit plan to align both dates at the next renewal. **Pay rises and one-off bonuses** According to data released by unions and the company, the draft agreement includes an average 30% increase in total economic compensation, covering base salary, functional allowances, variable elements (overtime, premiums), integrated benefits (meal vouchers, various services), employer contributions, and exceptional bonuses. The industry-level collective agreement is extended until end-2027, while the company agreement runs until end-2028, providing staff with visibility during a period of rapid transformation for the Italian flag carrier. The package includes differentiated one-off bonuses: ground staff receive €1,480 for the contractual vacancy period, while pilots and cabin crew receive between €1,500 and €4,500 depending on qualification. FIT-CISL specifies that for ground staff, the agreement includes increases in three installments, a doubling of the welfare scheme in 2026, higher meal vouchers and daily attendance allowances, three additional days of leave from 2027, and strengthened supplementary pension and health coverage. **Crew: pay scales, leave, and travel allowances** For flight crew (pilots and cabin crew), salary increases will be phased: +3% in September 2026, +4% in 2027, +5% in 2028, with a more favorable calculation of the 13th and 14th monthly payments and increased employer pension contributions. Leave can reach 30 days depending on age, while category health coverage will be extended to the entire household. Operationally, the agreement introduces specific compensation for flight activity and extends weekly part-time work to summer months, both directly linked to managing capacity amid fleet constraints. FIT-CISL also highlights an increase in the number of seniority steps for both categories, further structuring career prospects within the company. One of the most sensitive negotiation points concerned travel allowances. These will no longer be calculated per hour but per day, with amounts ranging from €47 for domestic flights to €56 for international routes, and up to €77 for North America, Canada, Paris, and London. **A social signal in a tense sector** Unions present the compromise as a result that "recognizes the value of work" and "fully protects skills and rights" in a sector considered strategic for Italy's economy, tourism, and competitiveness. Monica Mascia, general secretary of FIT-CISL, believes "this renewal, the fruit of serious and constructive negotiation dialogue, inaugurates a new and more participatory phase," the first step in a process of "rebuilding trust and staff loyalty." For ATPL and ATC students, this agreement illustrates how labor relations and collective bargaining shape airline operations and financial planning. Understanding such dynamics is crucial for future pilots and controllers, as they directly affect working conditions, career progression, and operational stability within major airline groups like Lufthansa.