Italy’s ITA Airways has taken delivery of its first Airbus A350, Airbus announced on May 12, 2022.
The aircraft, being leased from ALAFCO, landed at Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) on the evening of May 11, 2022.
The A350 in ITA’s blue livery will commence operations in early June 2022, serving international destinations such as Los Angeles, Buenos Aires and São Paulo. It offers a two-class layout, with a total of 334 seats – 33 in business and 301 in economy.
ITA is leasing six A350s as part of its fleet modernization strategy. The carrier, the successor to bankrupt Alitalia, firmed up an order for seven A220s, 11 A320neos and 10 A330neos in December 2021.
ITA is currently owned by the Italian government, which hopes to sell the airline by the end of June. Three parties are currently in the running, with bids due by May 23, 2022.