National Airline Honors 90 Sports Heroes Across Renewed Fleet; New-Generation Aircraft Outnumber Alitalia Legacy PlanesITA Airways reached a historic milestone on July 12, 2024, when its 100th aircraft, an Airbus A330-900, arrived at Rome Fiumicino following delivery from Toulouse. The achievement represents a dramatic transformation for Italy's national carrier since beginning operations in October 2021 as a successor to Alitalia, fundamentally reconfiguring the balance between new-generation and legacy aircraft.Of the 100 operational aircraft (technically 99, as one A320 remains grounded at Naples), the fleet composition reflects ITA Airways' modernization strategy. New-generation aircraft now significantly outnumber legacy planes inherited from Alitalia, with 57 modern jets compared to 43 older aircraft. The fleet comprises 16 Airbus A220-100/300 narrowbody jets, 18 A320neo, 6 A321neo (including three-cabin configurations for long-range deployment), 11 A330-900 widebody aircraft, and 6 A350-900 ultra-long-range widebodies. Legacy aircraft include 11 A319-100s, 25 A320ceo variants and 7 A330-200 widebodies from the Alitalia era. Italian Athletic Excellence Takes Flight Ninety of ITA Airways' 100 aircraft carry names honouring Italian sports champions and legendary athletes across multiple disciplines. The naming initiative, launched as "Naming Azzurri," reflects Italy's rich sporting heritage through representatives of football, cycling, motorsport, athletics, winter sports, combat sports, rowing, volleyball, basketball and numerous other fields. The selection process involves input from ITA Airways' social media communities, allowing aviation enthusiasts and sports fans to nominate athletes whose achievements merit airborne commemoration. The strategy distinguishes ITA Airways from competing airlines by creating a flying tribute to national pride and sporting excellence. The Champions Across Aircraft Types The Airbus A220-100 fleet carries names including Fiona May (athletics), Giuseppe Meazza (football), Gianluigi Buffon (football), Giovanna Trillini (fencing), Kristian Ghedina (skiing), Andrea Giani (volleyball) and Andrea Bargnani (basketball). The A220-300 variants honour Giacomo Agostini (motorcycle racing), Alessandro Campagna (kickboxing), Alessandro Mazzola (football), Davide Astori (football), Alessandra Sensini (windsurfing), Giorgio Lamberti (swimming) and Giorgio Chiellini (football). The narrowbody A319-100 aircraft from the Alitalia era maintain a heritage focus, with names including Gino Bartali (cycling), Massimo Biasion (motorsport), Marco Simoncelli (motorcycle racing), Pietro Mennea (athletics), Adriano Panatta (tennis), Michele Scarponi (cycling), Alberto Ascari (motorsport), Michele Alboreto (motorsport) and Novella Calligaris (swimming). The widebody A330-900 long-range aircraft represent ITA Airways' contemporary ambition, bearing names including Gelindo Bordin (marathoner and Olympic champion), Marco Tardelli (football), Lorenzo Bernardi (volleyball), Gianmarco Pozzecco (basketball), Paolo Canè (fencing), Luca Pancalli (Paralympic athlete), Vincenzo Montella (football), Antonio Cairoli (motocross), Livio Berruti (athletics), Stefano Baldini (marathoner) and Arrigo Sacchi (football). The A350-900 ultra-long-range flagship carries names honouring Valentino Rossi (motorcycle racing legend), Fausto Coppi (cycling icon), Francesco Totti (football), Paolo Maldini (football), Ayrton Senna (Formula 1, honorary Italian) and others. Recent Additions and Fleet Evolution As of January 2025, nine additional aircraft have entered service with athlete dedications. The latest A320neo (delivered August 1, 2024) honours Massimiliano "Max" Biaggi, an iconic motorcycle racing champion who won multiple world championships. An A321neo carries the name of fencer Roberto Marson. Recent A220 deliveries honour volleyball player Sara Anzanello, football defender Fabio Cannavaro, striker Dario Hübner, basketball star Andrea Bargnani, midfielder Angelo di Livio, volleyball coach Andrea Giani and skier Kristian Ghedina. ITA Airways' Strategic Transformation ITA Airways began operations with 52 aircraft inherited from Alitalia on symbolic one-euro terms. The airline was deliberately sized smaller than Alitalia, operating 39 destinations rather than the 100 Alitalia served, focusing exclusively on profitable routes as a condition of regulatory approval for creating a successor airline with "clear discontinuity" from its predecessor. The transition to 100 aircraft reflects successful fleet expansion through leasing arrangements. A February 2025 industrial plan projects the fleet will stabilize at approximately 100 aircraft through 2030, with strategic focus on replacing aging A330-200 and A320ceo variants with modern alternatives including additional A350-900 deliveries and expanded regional capacity through A220 narrowbody jets.   International Integration and Future Strategy ITA Airways joined Star Alliance effective April 1, 2026, following its integration into Lufthansa Group as a 41% partner (with 59% Italian government ownership). The alliance integration enables expanded codeshare partnerships and network optimization across European and intercontinental markets. The 2026-2030 industrial plan emphasizes long-range capacity development, hub strengthening at Rome Fiumicino, and gradual elimination of legacy aircraft. One additional long-range aircraft will enter service annually through 2030, enabling route expansion and frequency increases on key international markets including North America, Asia-Pacific and Middle Eastern destinations. Ph: SimoneAmi / Shutterstock.com 

ITA Airways reached a historic milestone on July 12, 2024, when its 100th aircraft, an Airbus A330-900, arrived at Rome Fiumicino following delivery from Toulouse. The achievement represents a dramatic transformation for Italy's national carrier since beginning operations in October 2021 as a successor to Alitalia, fundamentally reconfiguring the balance between new-generation and legacy aircraft. Of the 100 operational aircraft (technically 99, as one A320 remains grounded at Naples), the fleet composition reflects ITA Airways' modernization strategy. New-generation aircraft now significantly outnumber legacy planes inherited from Alitalia, with 57 modern jets compared to 43 older aircraft. The fleet comprises 16 Airbus A220-100/300 narrowbody jets, 18 A320neo, 6 A321neo (including three-cabin configurations for long-range deployment), 11 A330-900 widebody aircraft, and 6 A350-900 ultra-long-range widebodies. Legacy aircraft include 11 A319-100s, 25 A320ceo variants and 7 A330-200 widebodies from the Alitalia era. Ninety of ITA Airways' 100 aircraft carry names honouring Italian sports champions and legendary athletes across multiple disciplines. The naming initiative, launched as "Naming Azzurri," reflects Italy's rich sporting heritage through representatives of football, cycling, motorsport, athletics, winter sports, combat sports, rowing, volleyball, basketball and numerous other fields. The selection process involves input from ITA Airways' social media communities, allowing aviation enthusiasts and sports fans to nominate athletes whose achievements merit airborne commemoration. The strategy distinguishes ITA Airways from competing airlines by creating a flying tribute to national pride and sporting excellence. The Airbus A220-100 fleet carries names including Fiona May (athletics), Giuseppe Meazza (football), Gianluigi Buffon (football), Giovanna Trillini (fencing), Kristian Ghedina (skiing), Andrea Giani (volleyball) and Andrea Bargnani (basketball). The A220-300 variants honour Giacomo Agostini (motorcycle racing), Alessandro Campagna (kickboxing), Alessandro Mazzola (football), Davide Astori (football), Alessandra Sensini (windsurfing), Giorgio Lamberti (swimming) and Giorgio Chiellini (football). The narrowbody A319-100 aircraft from the Alitalia era maintain a heritage focus, with names including Gino Bartali (cycling), Massimo Biasion (motorsport), Marco Simoncelli (motorcycle racing), Pietro Mennea (athletics), Adriano Panatta (tennis), Michele Scarponi (cycling), Alberto Ascari (motorsport), Michele Alboreto (motorsport) and Novella Calligaris (swimming). The widebody A330-900 long-range aircraft represent ITA Airways' contemporary ambition, bearing names including Gelindo Bordin (marathoner and Olympic champion), Marco Tardelli (football), Lorenzo Bernardi (volleyball), Gianmarco Pozzecco (basketball), Paolo Canè (fencing), Luca Pancalli (Paralympic athlete), Vincenzo Montella (football), Antonio Cairoli (motocross), Livio Berruti (athletics), Stefano Baldini (marathoner) and Arrigo Sacchi (football). The A350-900 ultra-long-range flagship carries names honouring Valentino Rossi (motorcycle racing legend), Fausto Coppi (cycling icon), Francesco Totti (football), Paolo Maldini (football), Ayrton Senna (Formula 1, honorary Italian) and others. As of January 2025, nine additional aircraft have entered service with athlete dedications. The latest A320neo (delivered August 1, 2024) honours Massimiliano "Max" Biaggi, an iconic motorcycle racing champion who won multiple world championships. An A321neo carries the name of fencer Roberto Marson. Recent A220 deliveries honour volleyball player Sara Anzanello, football defender Fabio Cannavaro, striker Dario Hübner, basketball star Andrea Bargnani, midfielder Angelo di Livio, volleyball coach Andrea Giani and skier Kristian Ghedina. ITA Airways began operations with 52 aircraft inherited from Alitalia on symbolic one-euro terms. The airline was deliberately sized smaller than Alitalia, operating 39 destinations rather than the 100 Alitalia served, focusing exclusively on profitable routes as a condition of regulatory approval for creating a successor airline with "clear discontinuity" from its predecessor. The transition to 100 aircraft reflects successful fleet expansion through leasing arrangements. A February 2025 industrial plan projects the fleet will stabilize at approximately 100 aircraft through 2030, with strategic focus on replacing aging A330-200 and A320ceo variants with modern alternatives including additional A350-900 deliveries and expanded regional capacity through A220 narrowbody jets. ITA Airways joined Star Alliance effective April 1, 2026, following its integration into Lufthansa Group as a 41% partner (with 59% Italian government ownership). The alliance integration enables expanded codeshare partnerships and network optimization across European and intercontinental markets. The 2026-2030 industrial plan emphasizes long-range capacity development, hub strengthening at Rome Fiumicino, and gradual elimination of legacy aircraft. One additional long-range aircraft will enter service annually through 2030, enabling route expansion and frequency increases on key international markets including North America, Asia-Pacific and Middle Eastern destinations.