ITA to Purchase 28 Airbus Aircraft and Lease 31 More From Air Lease Corporation

Italia Trasporto Aereo (ITA), the new the carrier wholly-owned by the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance, has selected Airbus as their strategic fleet partner. The carrier will purchase 28 new Airbus aircraft and lease a further 31 from Air Lease Corporation.

On Thursday (September 30, 2021), Italia Trasporto Aereo (ITA) announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus for the purchase of 28 new aircraft including 10 A330neos, seven A220s and 11 Airbus A320neo Family aircraft. The new Italian airline has also signed an agreement with Air Lease Corporation (ALC) to lease 31 additional next generation long, medium and short haul jets. The company plans on leasing a total of 56 Airbus aircraft over the course of their business plan at more favorable conditions than those applied to their predecessor, Alitalia, including 13 long-haul and 43 short and medium-haul aircraft. ITA has further announced that their long-haul fleet will include state-of-the-art Airbus A350-900s.

Additionally, ITA is reducing the number of leasing companies used by Alitalia from 12 to six partners with proven financial strength. The leasing partners will facilitate the expansion of the airline’s initial fleet of 52 aircraft to 105 by 2025. Deliveries of the new Airbus aircraft are expected to begin at the end of the first quarter of 2022.

In Thursday’s announcement, ITA’s Executive Chairman, Alfredo Altavilla, said,

“The strategic partnership with Airbus and ALC is crucial for ITA to jumpstart our Business Plan aiming at achieving our targets of a new environmental-friendly fleet with significantly lower operating and leasing costs. I want to thank both Christian Scherer, CCO of Airbus, and Steven F. Udvar-Házy, Executive Chairman of Air Lease Corporation, for their trust in the future of our brand-new airline.”

Also commenting on the new fleet partnership, Airbus’ Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus International, Christian Scherer, added,

“ITA has done a thorough clean sheet aircraft evaluation and has chosen Airbus across all segments. This is very gratifying and a testimony of the great value of the Airbus product range. It sets a benchmark in driving the decarbonization and efficiency agenda. From the start, we have been working closely with ITA, listening carefully to their requirements. Today we are proud and grateful to be alongside ITA in building its future together. Grazie Mille!”

Air Lease Corporation’s Executive Chairman, Steven F. Udvar-Házy, added,

“Air Lease Corporation is pleased and proud to be the launch Lessor for ITA to supply the new airline 31 new Airbus jet aircraft, including the most modern A220 and A320/321neo family jets, as well the latest environmentally friendly widebody aircraft on long-term operating leases from ALC’s orderbook. These transactions will allow ITA to operate the most technologically advanced new aircraft to cover ITA’s European and Intercontinental route network with great efficiency. We look forward to a long-term successful partnership.”

Founded in November 2020, Italia Trasporto Aereo (ITA) is the new Italian national carrier wholly-owned by the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance. The airline will focus operations at their Rome Fiumicino hub and at Milan Linate Airport. ITA will launch with 61 routes to 45 destinations and plans on growing to 89 routes to 74 destinations by 2025. The carrier will operate an all Airbus fleet, launching with 52 short, medium and long-haul aircraft, with plans to grow the fleet to 105 aircraft by 2025.

Source: Italia Trasporto Aereo (ITA)