As part of its aircraft renewal programme, ITA Airways has taken delivery of four new aircraft, all Airbus, of different configurations in just one week.

Italian carrier ITA Airways says four new Airbus aircraft have joined its fleet as part of its ongoing aircraft renewal programme. In a press statement ITA Airways says that the 4 Airbus aircraft included an A330-900 owned by ITA Airways one each of A321neo, A320neo and A220-100 aircraft, all on lease. The airline says that now 44 of its 87 planes or over 50 pc of its fleet comprises new generation aircraft.

The flag carrier of Italy, ITA Airways launched operations in October 2021, after its previous avatar, Alitalia, went bankrupt after years of losses. At that time, it had placed an order for 28 Airbus narrow and wide-bodied aircraft, including 7 Airbus A220s, 11 A320neos and 10 Airbus A330neo aircraft.

The carrier says that the recent A220 deliveries have enabled it to ramp up its services to and from London City airport, with the introduction of a fourth daily service to Milan Linate and start a new London City-Rome Fiumicino route. The carrier also took delivery of its first A350 in 2022, and now has six of the aircraft in service.

“Investment in our fleet, which has grown by more than 60 per cent since our inception, lies at the heart of our strategy. Today, announcing the entry into service of four new-generation Airbus aircraft in just one week is highly gratifying for us. We have implemented Entry Into Service procedures to ensure the swift and efficient integration of newly acquired aircraft, while adhering to safety and regulatory requirements. Achieving this milestone underscores our ambitious goals and our commitment to making strategic decisions,’’ says Francesco Presicce, Chief Technology Officer of ITA Airways.

“Witnessing the average age of our aircraft decrease from 12.5 to 8.4 years in just over two years, with over 50 pc being the latest generation Airbus models, highlights the success of our Entry Into Service activities. This reaffirms that we are on the right track. Our target for 2024 is to introduce 26 new aircraft into our fleet, reaching a total of 96 by year-end. Among these, 67 pc will belong to the new generation, a figure that surpasses twice the average of new-generation Airbus aircraft in the fleets of other European carriers, currently standing at 32 pc,’’ Presicce adds.