ITA Airways has taken delivery of their first Airbus A330neo on Lease from Air Lease Corporation. In a separate announcement on Thursday (May 25th), the Lufthansa Group announced that they will acquire a 41 percent stake in ITA Airways.
On Friday (May 26, 2023), Airbus announced that ITA Airways, Italy’s national carrier, has taken delivery of their first Airbus A330neo on lease from Air Lease Corporation (ALC) during a ceremony in Toulouse. The aircraft will join ITA’s fleet in June and will be deployed on long-haul and new intercontinental routes. The airline already operates an all Airbus fleet of 68 aircraft including four A220s, 50 A320Family, eight A330-200s and six A350-900s. In support of ITA Airways’ sustainability goals the delivery flight for the new A330neo will be powered by a 16 percent blend of SAF.
ITA’s new A330neo has been named ‘Gelindo Bordin’ in honor of the Italian Olympic marathon champion. The A330neo features the award-winning Airspace cabin with more passenger space, a new lighting system, the latest IFE systems, and full connectivity. The A330neo will be configured in a three class layout created by renowned designer Walter De Silva, and will feature 30 full lie-flat Business Class seats, 24 Premium and 237 of the latest generation Economy Class seats, 36 of which will be dedicated to Comfort Economy. All seats are equipped with on demand audio and video content and Wi-Fi connectivity.
The Airbus A330neo is the latest generation of the popular Airbus A330 widebody jet. The aircraft incorporates the newest generation Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, new wings and a range of aerodynamic innovations, which combine to deliver a 25 percent reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The A330-900 offers a nonstop range of 7,200 nautical miles (13,334 km). At the end of April 2023, the Airbus A330 Family had registered over 1,775 firm orders, of which 289 are A330neos from 25 customers. To date, 100 A330neos have been delivered worldwide.
In a separate press release on Thursday (May 25, 2023), the Lufthansa Group announced that they have reached an agreement with the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) to acquire 41 percent of ITA Airways. The Group will acquire a minority stake in the Italian carrier through a €325 million capital increase and will retain the option to acquire all remaining shares at a later date. As part of the agreement, MEF has also committed to a €250 million capital increase into ITA Airways. Once the contract is finalized, ITA Airways will become the fifth network carrier in Lufthansa Group’s multi-hub and multi-brand system.
In Thursday’s announcement, Deutsche Lufthansa AG’s Chief Executive Officer, Carsten Spohr, said,
“Today’s agreement will lead to a win-win situation for Italy, ITA Airways and Lufthansa Group. And it is good news for Italian consumers and for Europe, because a stronger ITA will invigorate competition in the Italian market. As a young company with a modern fleet, and with its efficient and expanding hub in Rome, ITA is a perfect fit for Lufthansa Group. In Milan, ITA serves a strong catchment area which also offers potential for growth. As part of the Lufthansa Group family, ITA can develop into a sustainable and profitable airline, connecting Italy with Europe and the world. At the same time, this investment will enable us to continue our growth in one of our most important markets.”
Italia Trasporto Aereo (ITA Airways) was founded in November 2020 and is the new Italian national carrier. Commencing operations in October 2021, the SkyTeam alliance member airline is committed to providing superior customer service through strong digitization processes that ensure a personalized, best-in-class guest experience. The carrier operates a modern all Airbus fleet of 68 aircraft. Currently, ITA Airways serves 64 destinations, including 21 domestic, 33 international and 10 intercontinental routes. The company is committed to environmental sustainability through the operation of advanced fuel-efficient aircraft, the use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and other developing technologies such as the development of urban air mobility through eVTOLs.
Source: ITA Airways