**Lufthansa Group has announced the appointment of Lorenza Maggio as the new CEO of Brussels Airlines, replacing Dorothea von Boxberg, who will leave the airline on August 31, 2026.** Maggio, a member of ITA Airways' board and responsible for strategy and integration of the Italian carrier, is a seasoned executive within the German group. Her mission: to strengthen Brussels' role as a hub within Lufthansa's European network. **A succession prepared within the Lufthansa Group** In a press release issued on July 16, 2026, Lufthansa, the owner of Brussels Airlines, confirmed the departure of Dorothea von Boxberg, who took over the Belgian airline in 2023 from Lufthansa Cargo. Her term ends on August 31, 2026, with Maggio's start date yet to be specified. Dieter Vranckx, Chief Commercial Officer of Lufthansa Group and Chairman of SN Airholding, emphasized continuity in governance. "Lorenza Maggio is a highly accomplished aviation leader with strong international experience," he stated, noting her familiarity with both the industry and the group from various leadership roles. "I am particularly pleased that we have found an internal successor, continuing the work of Dorothea von Boxberg, whom I sincerely thank for her many years of service within the Lufthansa Group." **The career of an 'integrator' from ITA Airways** Italian-born and a graduate of the École Hôtelière de Lausanne, Lorenza Maggio has been with the Lufthansa Group since the early 2000s, holding responsibilities in marketing, customer experience, distribution, and subsidiary management. She led the catering company Evertaste and a joint venture specializing in airline meal boxes before overseeing brand strategy and customer relations at Eurowings. In 2024, she became Vice President Sales EMEA for Lufthansa Group airlines, responsible for commercial activities in Europe (excluding domestic markets), the Middle East, and Africa, as well as global sales programs and corporate sustainability strategy. In 2025, as ITA Airways joined Lufthansa, she was appointed to its board as Chief Strategy and Integration Officer, tasked with leading its integration. On LinkedIn, she stated: "I am proud to join the board of ITA Airways with responsibility for strategy and integration, and to have the opportunity to lead the integration of this iconic airline into Europe's leading airline group." This experience in mergers and strategic alignment within a multi-hub group signals a strong future for Brussels Airlines. **Strategic challenges for Brussels Airlines** For Lufthansa, Maggio's appointment comes amid cost pressures and social tensions, as the group rationalizes its offerings and strengthens its hubs. Brussels Airlines, long seen as Lufthansa's "fifth network" alongside Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian, and ITA Airways, must consolidate its hub position in Brussels against competition from European low-cost carriers and Gulf majors. Under von Boxberg, the Belgian airline continued its post-COVID recovery, improved punctuality, and reinforced its African presence, a historic market. Maggio's background in strategy and integration suggests intensified synergies with other group airlines in networks, products, and distribution. **Governance reshuffling in Brussels** Maggio's appointment follows the recent promotion of Filip Aerts, a former pilot and flight operations manager, to Chief Operating Officer of Brussels Airlines. Aerts, who joined the group via Delta Air Transport (Sabena) and became a captain and crew training manager, entered the executive committee in 2025 alongside von Boxberg and CFO Nina Öwerdieck. **MyATPS editorial perspective:** For ATPL and ATC students, this leadership change illustrates how airline group strategies—like hub consolidation and integration of new subsidiaries—directly affect network planning, slot allocation, and operational coordination. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for future pilots and controllers who will work within such complex multi-hub environments.