Source: https://www.planespotters.net/photo/1502127/d-avyx-ita-airways-airbus-a321-271nx,
-EI-HXA pictured at XFW before delivery, still wearing a temporary registration
About the aircraft
This A321neo traces it’s roots back to three years ago, when Italy’s then new flag carrier, and Alitalia inheritor, ITA Airways signed an MoU with Airbus and AirLeaseCorp in October of 2021, which among many other plane orders included nine A321neos to be leased from ALC. The aircraft were meant for use on medium haul routes that ITA was going to open, and were originally scheduled for delivery in early 2023, but ended up slightly delayed.
On the aircraft itself
EI-HXA, the first of nine A321neos destined for ITA was delivered to the companies Fiumicino hub in November of 2023. It soon entered revenue service on flights to European hubs such as Paris, London and Amsterdam, substituting the original plan for a debut on flights to Tel Aviv. From June of this year, the aircraft inaugurated four routes perfectly suited to it, from Rome to Accra, Ghana, Jeddah and Riyadh, while in a months time it will inaugurate the return of flights to Dubai DXB. ITA now has 7 A321neos, which continue to fly to all above mentioned destinations, with more recent additions being Milan, Madrid, Barcelona, Brussels, Athens, Tel Aviv and Cairo.
ITA’s aircraft are configured with only 165 seats (less than an average A320neo), with up to four different seating classes, comprising:
- 12 lie-flat Business class seats
- 12 Premium Economy seats (first ever airline with P.E. on an A321neo)
- 12 Economy Comfort seats
- 129 regular Economy class seats
The aircraft can also be converted to A321neoLRs due to the ability to include an extra fuel tank in the cargo hold.
Why we need it
Firstly, and id say obviously, it’s an incredible aircraft/livery match up! Secondly, ITA already operates some truly unique routes with these aircraft, with more coming in the next few years. Thirdly, ITA is at the moment the only European airline (not counting TK) that operates on intra-European routes with an aircraft that doesn’t have the “Euro-Business” class, but a true Business class seat, thus making this plane / livery combo, truly unique. Finally, these aircraft will only grow in relevance and quantity in the future - ITA is already eyeing extras, and with the future support of Lufthansa these aircraft are set to play a pivotal role in the future of a successful and profitable ITA Airways!
-there may also be a certain VA that could use this aircraft, but lets not mention that ;)
