It’s been a very eventful day for ITA Airways. On May 26, 2023, the Italian airline received its first Airbus A330-900neo aircraft at a ceremony in Toulouse, France.
The aircraft, named after Italian marathon runner Gelindo Bordin and leased from Air Lease Corporation, is one of ten ordered by the Italian carrier in 2021, shortly after the new airline was formed out of the assets of the late Alitalia.
This fleet addition happens in the wake of the acquisition by Lufthansa Group of a 41% equity stake in ITA Airways. This move, which had been long anticipated, was officially confirmed just hours ahead of the A330neo delivery.
ITA Airways already operates eight legacy A330-200s, which came from the airline’s previous incarnation, the now defunct Alitalia.
The aircraft is configured with a three-class cabin layout, seating 291 passengers, of which 30 make up business class, 24 premium economy and 237 economy class (of the latter, 36 are reserved for Comfort Economy passengers, a type of fare that provides additional space and services not available to regular economy passengers).
The newly delivered A330-900neo is fitted with the state-of-the-art Airspace cabin and is equipped with internet connectivity. It is expected to enter service on ITA Airways’ long-haul network in June.
This latest fleet addition happens in the wake of the acquisition by Lufthansa Group of a 41% equity stake in ITA Airways in a $349 deal. This move, which had been long anticipated, was officially confirmed just hours ahead of the A330neo delivery.