Illustration: The Touch & Go
Brussels Airlines to Welcome ITA Airways Executive Lorenza Maggio as New CEO
Lufthansa Group reveals Lorenza Maggio will succeed Dorothea von Boxberg as Brussels Airlines CEO, with the transition date pending finalization.
The gist
Lorenza Maggio, ITA Airways board member and former Lufthansa VP Sales, set to lead Brussels Airlines as new CEO.
Continuing coverage
All Aviation Leadership →Brussels Airlines announced a leadership change with the appointment of Lorenza Maggio as its next CEO, following the planned departure of current chief Dorothea von Boxberg. Von Boxberg is scheduled to step down on August 31, 2026, as confirmed by the airline’s parent company, Lufthansa Group. The exact date for Maggio's official transition has not yet been determined, signaling an impending leadership shift within the carrier.
Lorenza Maggio brings extensive airline industry experience to the Brussels Airlines role, currently serving on the Board of Directors of ITA Airways since January 2025. At ITA Airways, she holds the title of Chief Strategy and Integration Officer, where she has been integrally involved in shaping the airline’s strategic direction. Her background combines operational oversight with strategic planning, equipping her for the top leadership position at Brussels Airlines.
Earlier in her career, Maggio held the position of Vice President Sales for the Lufthansa Group, overseeing sales activities across Europe (excluding Germany and Switzerland), the Middle East, and Africa. This role involved coordinating sales strategies for multiple Lufthansa network airlines, deepening her knowledge of the group’s wider operations and commercial objectives. Her leadership span across diverse international markets reaffirms her capabilities within a global airline context.
Dieter Vranckx, Chief Commercial Officer of Lufthansa Group, expressed strong confidence in Maggio’s expertise and appointment. He characterized her as highly accomplished and internationally experienced, acknowledging her familiarity with the airline industry and the Lufthansa Group specifically. Vranckx highlighted her various leadership roles within different companies as evidence that she would skillfully guide Brussels Airlines toward further integration within the group's hub strategy.
The decision to appoint Maggio represents Lufthansa Group’s preference for internal succession, drawing from seasoned executives within its established ranks. This continuity aims to maintain operational stability at Brussels Airlines, which plays a strategic role as an integrated hub airline in the Lufthansa Group network. Von Boxberg was commended for her many years of service and contribution to the group, marking an end to a significant tenure.
Brussels Airlines’ position as a key hub carrier in Brussels makes the CEO role critical for the airline’s continued growth and consolidation under Lufthansa's stewardship. Maggio’s experience with ITA Airways and her sales leadership are expected to inform new strategies for network optimization and market expansion. Her appointment may also signal ongoing efforts within Lufthansa Group to streamline operations among its various carriers.
The timing of this leadership change comes at a moment when airlines are navigating competitive pressures and evolving passenger demands post-pandemic. Having a leader who understands market integration and commercial nuances is valuable. Maggio will assume responsibility during a phase where Brussels Airlines must balance legacy strengths with new strategic initiatives and group alignment.
This transition underscores the Lufthansa Group’s approach to leadership continuity and strategic management within its airline subsidiaries. Maggio stepping into the CEO role at Brussels Airlines reflects both her individual track record and the group’s confidence in her capacity to foster growth and integration. The industry will watch how her leadership influences Brussels Airlines’ positioning within the European market in the months ahead.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is the incoming CEO of Brussels Airlines?
- Lorenza Maggio, Chief Strategy and Integration Officer at ITA Airways and former Lufthansa Group Vice President Sales, has been appointed as Brussels Airlines' new CEO.
- When will the current CEO of Brussels Airlines step down?
- Dorothea von Boxberg is set to step down from her role as Brussels Airlines CEO on August 31, 2026.
- What experience does Lorenza Maggio bring to Brussels Airlines?
- Maggio has extensive experience including serving on ITA Airways' board, leading strategy and integration there, and overseeing sales for Lufthansa Group airlines across various regions.
Read more
All Airlines →
Russian government hikes investment for 63 new domestic aircraft, delivery pushed to 2026-29
Investment figures revised for batch of more than 60 MC-21s, SJ-100s and Tu-214s. Revised Russian government documents detailing investment in the acquisition of more than 60 new-build aircraft have revealed a substantial price hike for the batch. The investment covers the acquisition of 18 Yakovlev MC-21s and 34 SJ-100s, plus 11 Tupolev Tu-214s. These were originally scheduled to be delivered to operators over the course of 2023-25 according to a January 2023 government document on the preferential leasing of domestically-produced aircraft. The document stated that they would be delivered to Aeroflot and Rossiya on 18-year terms through the lessor Aviakapital-Servis. But a revision to the document published on 2 July this year amends several aspects of the transaction. Delays in the development programmes have pushed back the delivery schedule to 2026-29. Although the composition of the 63 aircraft remains the same, the document states that the overall volume of the investment has risen sharply to Rb290.7 billion ($3.7 billion) from the previous figure of Rb175.4 billion. The price of the MC-21 is given as around Rb5.3 billion, up from the prior Rb3.2 billion, and similarly large rises are listed for the other models. According to the revision, the transfer of aircraft from Aviakapital-Servis to operators will start this year, but it only refers to "Russian airlines" rather than identifying Aeroflot and Rossiya. This could relate to Aeroflot Group's apparent shift, in 2024, entirely in favour of the MC-21, after it had previously committed additionally to the SJ-100 and Tu-214. The government document also states that the lease term from Aviakapital-Servis has increased to 22 years.
Avianca Lifemiles Launches Up to 130% Bonus on Purchased Miles Until July 24
Buying miles & points strategically can represent a great value , especially for first and business class travel. The avianca lifemiles program has just launched its newest promotion on purchased miles. Historically the program has almost constantly offered these kinds of promotions, though there has been an extended gap in the last few months — we're finally now seeing these offers return. Note that nowadays lifemiles promotions are generally targeted, so different members may see different offers, and on top of that, some members may not see any offers at all. I find lifemiles to be one of the more useful frequent flyer programs for redeeming miles, thanks to the ability to redeem for long haul premium cabin Star Alliance awards. However, let me emphasize that the program doesn't always have access to the same award space as other Star Alliance programs, so you'll want to do your own research, based on the travel you're trying to plan. I'd only consider buying miles with a very specific use in mind. For what it's worth, I don't get any sort of kickback if you buy miles — I just want to make OMAAT readers aware of the deals that are available. Current promotion on purchased lifemiles Between July 15 and July 24, 2026, the avianca lifemiles program is offering a bonus on purchased miles . While different members may be targeted for different offers, the standard offer that I see across accounts is for a bonus of up to 130%, structured as follows: Buy 1,000-20,000 miles, receive a 115% bonus Buy 21,000-50,000 miles, receive a 120% bonus Buy 51,000-200,000 miles, receive a 130% bonus You'll of course want to check your account to see what offer you're targeted for, as it could be different. It's common for lifemiles to promote one amount, and then actually offer a bigger bonus. Redeem lifemiles for Brussels Airlines business class How much does it cost to buy lifemiles? Ordinarily you can buy avianca lifemiles for 3.3 cents each, before any discounts or bonuses. That means that if you purchased 200,000 lifemiles (pre-bonus) with a 130% bonus (assuming you're eligible for that), you'd receive a total of 460,000 lifemiles for $6,600, which is a cost of 1.43 cents per mile. Buy lifemiles at a discounted cost Unfortunately this isn't quite the best promotion we've seen from the program, as we've seen bigger percentage bonuses in the past. However, we haven't seen any promotion at all in recent months, so this is definitely better than nothing. How many lifemiles can you buy? The lifemiles program lets members purchase up to 200,000 miles per account per calendar year, before factoring in any bonuses. Redeem lifemiles for SWISS business class Which credit card should you buy lifemiles with? Mileage purchases are processed directly by avianca lifemiles, which means the purchase of miles does qualify as airfare spending . Therefore you'll want to consider using one of the below cards for your purchase, since you'd earn bonus points for airfare purchases . Please add a credit card to compare. Is buying lifemiles worth it? For context, avianca is in the Star Alliance, which means you can redeem lifemiles on all Star Alliance airlines without any fuel surcharges . Really this is the core value proposition of buying lifemiles, since this is a great way to book Star Alliance premium cabin seats at a huge discount. Check out my guide on how to redeem lifemiles for ideas on how to redeem these miles. With a specific use in mind, this lifemiles promotion can be a great value, whether you're looking at traveling in first class on All Nippon Airways , or are looking at traveling in business class on a countless number of airlines. Everyone has to crunch the numbers for themselves and decide whether this makes sense or not. Let me again emphasize that in some cases, lifemiles doesn't have access to the same award availability as Star Alliance partners, for better or worse. Sometimes lifemiles doesn't have access to partner awards that other programs do have access to, and other times the inverse is true. That's why I always recommend doing some "dummy" award searches before buying miles, so you can get a sense of how award availability lines up with your needs. Keep in mind that you can get even more value from the program with a lifemiles+ subscription , and lifemiles' credit cards offer a discount on that . Redeem lifemiles for All Nippon Airways first class How much are lifemiles worth? Everyone will value mileage currencies differently, but personally I value lifemiles at ~1.4 cents each. That's based on the redemption values on Star Alliance partners, as there's tons of value to be had. I tend to value miles very conservatively, so if you're maximizing miles you should be able to get way more value than that. Do lifemiles expire? Miles with the lifemiles program don't expire as long as you accrue some miles at least once every 12 months. Any mileage earning activity, including buying miles, will extend the expiration of your miles. However, redeeming miles as such doesn't extend the expiration of your miles. Redeem lifemiles for Turkish business class How else can you earn lifemiles? If you're looking to earn lifemiles, the good news is that there are lots of options beyond outright buying them. Specifically, avianca lifemiles is partners with several bank currencies , including Amex Membership Rewards , Capital One , and Citi ThankYou , so there are lots of ways to pick up these miles. There are lots of ways to earn avianca lifemiles Bottom line The avianca lifemiles program is offering a promotion on purchased miles. Different members may be eligible for different offers, though it appears that the standard offer is for up to a 130% bonus, which is an opportunity to acquire miles for 1.43 cents each. This has the potential to represent a solid value, though I'd only recommend buying miles with a specific, short term use in mind. We have seen better promotions in the past, though oddly, the program has had a long gap with these offers, so this is the first promotion in a few months. Do you plan on buying lifemiles with a bonus?
![JetBlue Will Offer Bonus Points For Borrowing Money To Buy Flights—At Interest Rates Up To 36% [Roundup]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Favoibnodqwjxlpbhunuu.supabase.co%2Fstorage%2Fv1%2Fobject%2Fpublic%2Fstory-images%2Fai%2Fjetblue-will-offer-bonus-points-for-borrowing-money-to-buy-flights-at-interest-r-f978fe3c.png&w=3840&q=75)
JetBlue to Reward Customers with Bonus Points for Financing Flights at High Interest Rates
JetBlue plans to offer bonus points to customers who finance flights at checkout, even though interest rates can reach 36%. Also: a fake DoorDash restaurant scheme, a pilot writes "I'm Bored" in the sky, a ¥1.67 trillion Hyatt quote, JetBlue route cuts and California targets a luxury hotel for price gouging.
United Airlines' Fuel Costs Surge $2.3 Billion in Q2 Amid Middle East Conflict
The surging price of oil has been a major unexpected economic shock to the global aviation industry. The impact has had varying severity on different carriers around the world. Now, United Airlines has revealed that it expects to spend an additional $6 billion this year , according to CBS News.
The Daily Touch & Go
The day's best aviation news in your inbox. Free, no spam.