ITA Airways Expands Fleet with Delivery of First A321neo

Italy’s ITA Airways achieved a significant milestone on November 10 with the delivery of its inaugural A321neo at Hamburg Finkenwerder. The aircraft, registered as EI-HXA with manufacturer serial number 11561, was subsequently flown to the airline’s main hub at Rome Fiumicino.

This A321-200NX(LR) marks the beginning of a lease agreement with Air Lease Corporation, encompassing a total of nine A321neos sourced from ALC’s order book with Airbus. The deliveries are scheduled to continue through 2025 and will contribute to ITA’s existing all-Airbus fleet. Currently, ITA’s fleet includes one A220-100, seven A220-300s, eighteen A319-100s, twenty-six A320-200s, thirteen A320-200Ns, eight A330-200s, five A330-900s, and six A350-900s.

ITA Airways highlighted in a press release that the three-class configuration of the A321neo, featuring 12 lie-flat beds in Business Class, 12 Premium Economy, and 141 Economy Class seats, aligns with its strategic plans for routes to the Middle East and Africa. The extended range of the A321neo(LR) enables ITA to efficiently serve thinner markets in these regions.

Originally scheduled to debut on the Rome Fiumicino-Tel Aviv Ben Gurion route by December 1, ITA Airways has adjusted its plans due to safety concerns arising from the Israel-Hamas conflict. As of now, no other schedules for the A321neo have been filed. Flights to Tel Aviv are set to resume from December 1, initially operated by a daily A320-200, transitioning to a daily A321neo from January 5, 2024. ITA Airways envisions serving Tel Aviv up to three times daily with the A321neo(LR).

Currently, Tel Aviv represents ITA’s sole destination in the Middle East, while in Africa, the airline serves Algiers, Cairo International, and Tunis, according to ch-aviation schedules data. The addition of the A321neo reinforces ITA Airways’ commitment to expanding its network and enhancing its service offerings.