Roma, 30 set. (askanews) – ITA has selected Airbus as the strategic partner for the fleet of the Italian airline.
The airline has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Airbus for the purchase of 28 new aircraft: 10 Airbus A330neo aircraft for long-haul flights, 7 Airbus A220 family regional jets and 11 Airbus A320neo family aircraft (deliveries for the latter to start after the completion of the business plan).
ITA has also signed an agreement with Air Lease Corporation for the leasing of further 31 new generation Airbus aircraft, among which long, medium and short-haul jets.
Overall, ITA will lease a total of 56 new Airbus aircraft over the course of the plan (13 long-haul jets, including the ultra-modern Airbus A350-900, and 43 short and medium-haul aircraft) at significantly more favorable economic conditions than those applied to Alitalia.
ITA will also halve the number of leasing companies from the twelve used by Alitalia under Extraordinary Administration to manage its fleet to six partners of proven financial strength that will cooperate with the airline in the process of expansion of the fleet from the initial 52 aircraft to 105 aircraft in 2025.
The deliveries of new Airbus jets will begin from the end of the first quarter of 2022, thus starting the process of expansion and conversion of the initial ITA fleet to a new generation of more efficient and environmentally friendly aircraft, equipped with the best technologies and state-of-the-art cabins to guarantee maximum comfort to travelers. Furthermore, the choice of a single supplier allows to overcome the limitations on flexibility in crew management and obtain greater efficiency in the supply of aircraft spare parts and maintenance activities.
In addition, ITA has also agreed with Airbus to become a strategic partner for new technologies and the next generation of sustainable aerospace.
The Executive Chairman of ITA, Alfredo Altavilla, said: “The strategic partnership with Airbus and ALC is crucial for ITA to jumpstart our Business Plan aiming at achieving our targets of a new environmental-friendly fleet with significantly lower operating and leasing costs. I want to thank both Christian Scherer, CCO of Airbus, and Steven F. Udvar-Házy, Executive Chairman of Air Lease Corporation, for their trust in the future of our brand-new airline.”
“ITA has done a thorough clean sheet aircraft evaluation and has chosen Airbus across all segments. This is very gratifying and a testimony of the great value of the Airbus product range. It sets a benchmark in driving the decarbonization and efficiency agenda. From the start, we have been working closely with ITA, listening carefully to their requirements. Today we are proud and grateful to be alongside ITA in building its future together. Grazie Mille! ” said Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus International.
“Air Lease Corporation-ALC is pleased and proud to be the launch Lessor for ITA to supply the new airline 31 new Airbus jet aircraft, including the most modern A220 and A320/321NEO family jets, as well the latest environmentally friendly wide body aircraft on long term operating leases from ALC’s orderbook. These transactions will allow ITA to operate the most technologically advanced new aircraft to cover ITA’s European and Intercontinental route network with great efficiency”, said Steven F Udvar-Hazy Executive Chairman of ALC. “We look forward to a long term successful partnership”, he said.
