Ita chooses Airbus for the renewal of the fleet. The “new Alitalia” has formalized the choice of the Franco-German group as a “strategic partner” for the new planes, as announced by Il Sole 24 Ore on 23 September. The European manufacturer was preferred to the American Boeing. Two agreements have been signed. One with Airbus “for the purchase” of 28 aircraft and another with Air Lease Corporation for the leasing supply of a further 31 Airbus aircraft. “Overall, Ita will acquire 56 Airbus aircraft under lease over the course of the plan at significantly more advantageous conditions than those reserved for Alitalia,” the company announced.
The Memorandum of Understanding with Airbus
The note says that “the company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Airbus for the purchase of 28 aircraft”: 10 Airbus A330neo for long-haul flights, 7 regional aircraft of the Airbus A220 family and 11 of the A320neo family for medium-haul. “For the latter, deliveries will begin after the completion of the Business Plan,” the company specifies. Ita intends to take off on October 15, with 52 Airbus aircraft of the old Alitalia.
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The agreement with Air Lease Corporation
Ita also signed an agreement with the company Air Lease Corporation (Alc) for the leasing supply of another 31 new generation Airbus aircraft, including long, medium and short range aircraft.
By 2025, 56 new Airbuses will be acquired
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 12 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.
First deliveries from March 2022
Deliveries of the new Airbuses will begin at the end of the first quarter of 2022, thus starting the process of growth and conversion of the initial ITA fleet with a new generation of more efficient and less polluting aircraft. 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.