ITA Airways, the flag carrier of Italy, has taken another step in its aircraft renewal program. The successor to bankrupt Alitalia announced that it has enhanced its fleet by adding four new-generation Airbus aircraft within a week.
The Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO)-based carrier replaced older Airbus jets with four new-generation aircraft: an A330-900 wide-body, now owned by ITA, along with three narrow-body aircraft, including an A321neo, an A320neo, and an A220-100, all added to the fleet on a long-term lease basis.
According to the airline’s statement, released on April 5, 2024, the new additions mean that 44 out of a fleet of 87 jets, accounting for over 50% of the fleet, now consist of new-generation aircraft. ITA explained that the fleet changes reduced the average age of the aircraft from 12.5 to 8.4 years in slightly over two years.
In 2024, the airline plans to add 26 new aircraft to its fleet, bringing the total to 96 jets by the end of the year. According to the airline’s Accountable Manager and Chief Technology Officer Francesco Presicce, 67% of these will be part of the new-generation, which exceeds twice the average of new-generation Airbus aircraft in the fleets of other European carriers, currently standing at 32%.
“Investment in our fleet, which has grown by more than 60% since our inception, lies at the heart of our strategy. […] Announcing the entry into service of four new-generation Airbus aircraft in just one week is highly gratifying for us,” Presicce said.
The expansion of the new-generation fleet aligns with the carrier’s sustainability objectives. With the goal of becoming Europe’s most eco-friendly carrier, ITA aims to have 90% of its fleet operating as environmentally friendly. It estimates that this initiative will reduce fuel consumption by 25% as per the carrier’s 2023-2027 Strategic Plan.
Currently, ITA Airways operates a fleet of 87 Airbus planes, which includes eleven A220s, eight A319s, 24 A320-200s, 15 A320neos, four A321neos, five A330-200s, eight A330-900s, and six A350 XWB family aircraft, according to the Planespotters.com registry.
