- Fast-track four additional widebodies by 2027: two in 2026, two in 2027.
- Target fleet of 30 long-haul aircraft by 2030.
- Current widebody fleet: 25 aircraft including A330-200s, A330-900Ns, A350-900s.
- Evaluating new transatlantic routes like Rome-New York Newark.
- Engine inspections causing groundings and €150m damages.
ITA Airways is working on a new, more ambitious fleet plan to fast-track the entry into service of four additional widebodies by 2027. CEO Jörg Eberhart confirmed management was finalising a new plan that would see two widebodies added in 2026 and two more in 2027, accelerating long-haul growth and targeting a fleet of 30 long-haul aircraft by 2030. He did not specify the aircraft types to be fast-tracked.
ITA Airways awaits delivery of three more A330-900Ns and two A350-900s, which would take its widebody fleet to 30 aircraft. It already operates a widebody fleet of 25, namely five A330-200s, fourteen A330-900Ns, and six A350-900s. Long-haul operations from Rome Fiumicino will remain the backbone of ITA’s strategy.
ITA is currently evaluating potential new transatlantic routes, including Rome-New York Newark, subject to regulatory approval of its A++ alliance with United Airlines, Air Canada, and Lufthansa. The carrier continues to face disruptions from Pratt & Whitney engine inspections, which have resulted in an average grounding of 18, with 15 still parked in 2026, and with damages estimated at €150m. The airline plans to recruit 100 pilots and 400 flight attendants as part of broader efforts to stabilise labour relations and support steady growth.
Jörg Eberhart shared “We’re waiting for a response from the authorities, confident they’re working on it. We’re confident they’ll give us the green light by November 2026. The war in Ukraine and the Russian blockade of the skies are making Asia more distant: it’s a coveted destination, but expensive and complicated. We’ll fly more to Latin America and North America. The move demonstrates, first and foremost, that ITA is growing steadily. Of course, we’d be pleased if the unions also appreciated our efforts. It’s a solution that workers like and could also benefit the company. A compromise is needed between a company that’s not yet making a profit and the legitimate needs of its employees. ITA Airways can contribute, but not in an unlimited way. I hope the unions have a sense of responsibility; granting 20pc raises would have an impact on ITA’s sustainable growth, on additional new hires, and on natural career progression.”
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