ITA Airways informed that it will incorporate its first Airbus A350s in June 2022, with flights to Argentina, Brazil, and Japan as a feasible start date.
Last September it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus to incorporate aircraft ex-factory. Under the agreement, seven A220s, eleven A320neo and ten A330neo, with a value of USD 5 billion. In addition, it agreed with Air Lease Corporation for an additional 31 aircraft to be delivered between 2022 and 2025, while another 25 aircraft will be received from different lessors.
These 25 aircraft include the first four Airbus A350-900s for long-haul flights, including Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, and Tokyo, according to Fabio Lazzerini, the company’s CEO, in an interview with Il Messaggero. Lazzerini also stated that it will allow them to expand capacity to other destinations, such as Los Angeles and Miami.
The Airbus A330-200s, which were inherited by Alitalia, do not have the capacity to operate to Argentina or Japan, two of the former Italian airline’s most profitable long-haul international markets, which were previously operated with Boeing 777s.
According to the Centre for Aviation (CAPA), Hainan Airlines ordered the Airbus A350s through the lessor ALAFCO, with serial numbers 285, 308, 323, and 338. The Chinese airline withdrew the order due to its economic difficulties.
Currently, the Italian airline operates aircraft that belonged to Alitalia under the predecessor’s scheme, since the purchase of the brand on the last day of its operation. However, by January one of the Airbus A320s, it currently operates will be the first to carry the new livery.
Lazzerini said that ITA Airways has carried 600,000 passengers and received 150,000 subscriptions to its frequent flyer program since it began operations a month ago.
