Alitalia, Ita chooses Airbus as a strategic partner

Ita has chosen Airbus as a strategic partner for the company’s fleet. Ita signed the Memorandum of Understanding with Airbus for the purchase of 28 new aircraft: 10 Airbus A330neo for long-haul connections, 7 units of the regional Airbus A220 family of aircraft and 11 aircraft of the A320neo family (the deliveries of the latter are expected after completion of the Business Plan). Ita also signed an agreement with Air Lease Corporation for the leasing supply of another 31 new generation Airbus aircraft including long, medium and short range aircraft. This was announced by Ita in a note. Overall, Ita will lease 56 new Airbus aircraft over the course of the plan (13 long-haul, including the ultra-modern Airbus A350-900, and 43 short and medium-haul) at significantly more advantageous conditions than those reserved for Alitalia. . The company will also halve the number of leasing companies from the twelve used by Alitalia in Extraordinary Administration to manage its fleet to six partners of proven financial strength who will support the company in the growth path of the fleet from 52 initial aircraft to 105 aircraft in 2025. Deliveries of the new Airbuses will start from the end of the first quarter of 2022, thus starting the growth and conversion process of the initial Ita fleet with a new generation of more efficient and environmental-friendly aircraft, equipped with the best technologies and cutting-edge systems for ensure maximum comfort for passengers. Furthermore, the choice of a single supplier allows to overcome the limits of flexibility in the management of the crew and to obtain greater efficiency in the supply of aircraft spare parts and in maintenance activities. Furthermore, Ita has also agreed with Airbus to become a strategic partner for new technologies and for the future generation of sustainable aircraft. “The strategic partnership with Airbus and Alc is crucial for Ita in order to change our Business Plan in achieving the goal of operating a new environmentally friendly fleet with significantly low operating and leasing costs. I want to thank both Christian Scherer, Chief Commercial Officer of Airbus, and Steven F. Udvar-Házy, Executive President of Air Lease Corporation, for the confidence placed in the future of our new airline “, says Ita Executive President, Alfredo Altavilla. a thorough assessment of the aircraft and chose Airbus for all segments of its fleet. This is very rewarding and is a testament to the great value of the Airbus product range. The agreement sets a benchmark in the progression towards decarbonisation and efficiency. From the beginning, we have worked closely with Ita, listening carefully to their needs. Today we are proud and grateful to be alongside Ita in building its future together. Thank you very much! “, The words of Christian Scherer, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus International.” Air Lease Corporation-Alc is pleased and proud to be the launch lessor for Ita to provide the new airline with 31 new Airbus jets, including state-of-the-art aircraft of the A220 and A320 / 321neo families and the most modern and environmentally-friendly long-haul aircraft, through long-term operating leases from Alc’s order book. These agreements will allow Ita to operate with a new and more technologically advanced fleet to serve Ita’s network of European and intercontinental routes with great efficiency “, says F. Udvar-Hazy, Executive President of Alc. “We hope this is a long-term successful partnership,” he said.