ITA Airways, the new Italian flag carrier, is pursuing relentlessly its fleet modernisation. The airline inherited quite an old fleet from Alitalia and, while it aways for the Lufthansa deal to become official, it’s bringing its average age down. The latest additions to the airline’s fleet are two Airbus A220-100s. The two new aircraft arrived in the carrier’s base of Rome Fiumicino in the last few days. However, these planes have a peculiarity that sets them apart from the rest of the fleet.
Two New ITA Airways Airbus A220 Arrive in Rome Fiumicino
The last 10 days of June saw two brand new planes, fresh off the assembly line, make the transatlantic crossing to reach ITA Airways’ base in Rome Fiumicino airport. The planes are two Airbus A220-100, the smaller variant of the aircraft type. These planes are of strategic importance for the carrier as the allow to operate routes the would otherwise be unprofitable. They also enable ITA to serve key airports such as London City Airport (LCY).
The two new ITA Airways aircraft have been registered as:numero:
- I-ADVA
- I-ADVB
The former has already entered service and has already operated ITA flights from Rome Fiumicino and Milan Linate. With many flights being also operated to and from London City Airport itself.
The latter on the other hand has only just arrived from Montreal on June 29th 2024. After undergoing final checks it will too enter service bringing the electric blue livery across Europe.
However, people that regularly follow ITA Airways operations might have already spotted a peculiarity about these planes. Even without seeing a photo of them. It all has to do with the aircraft registration number.
The Peculiarity That Sets These Airbus A220s Apart
These planes are just the same as the others in terms of livery and interiors. However, their registration numbers are very unique when put against those of the rest of the fleet. Both these planes were registered in Italy, hence the initial I. That is a peculiarity as ITA Airways, and Alitalia before it, only ever registered planes in the Republic of Ireland, therefore using the initials EI. ITA inherited this trait from Alitalia which in turn inherited it from AirOne.
The fact that ITA chose to register the planes in Italy is quite a significant change in operations, as this has been the norm for over 20 years. Might it have been something Lufthansa suggested? Only time will tell.
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