52 destinations with 17 domestic, 23 international and 12 intercontinental in the winter schedule
International growth with Rio de Janeiro and Malé in the upcoming Winter season, plus Chicago and Toronto in 2024 Summer season
Over 11 million passengers and an average load factor of 80% in the 2023 January–October period
On, October 11, 2023, ITA Airways launched the 2023–2024 winter season at the TTG Travel Experience International Tourism Fair in Rimini during a press conference presented by Andrea Benassi, General Manager ITA Airways, and Emiliana Limosani, Chief Commercial Officer ITA Airways and CEO Volare.
“This is my first time at TTG Travel Experience, and I’m honored to be here today at this annual event where tourism operators gather to build the upcoming seasons – said Andrea Benassi, ITA Airways General Manager – ITA Airways wants to be the reference national carrier for the mobility of Italians by ensuring quality connectivity at both domestic and international level, with a particular focus on the intercontinental segment.
Since the start of our operations, our goal is to be an efficient, innovative carrier, representing Italy worldwide, – added the General Manager – our passengers should immediately feel at home and experience Italy even before landing”.
Emiliana Limosani presented the major news for the 2023–2024 winter season, which will offer 52 destinations, including 17 domestic, 23 international, and 12 intercontinental. Two new intercontinental routes, Rio de Janeiro and Malè (Maldives), will be added to the flights already operated to New York, Boston, Miami, Los Angeles, Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires, Tokyo, and New Delhi.
“We are very proud of the excellent commercial results achieved this year, which surpassed our forecasts.
These were achieved thanks to the constant work carried out and the support of the trade segment, which were crucial elements for us since the start of our operations – said Emiliana Limosani, Chief Commercial Officer ITA Airways and CEO Volare. From January 2023 to date, we have carried 11 million passengers, 55 percent more versus the same period in 2022, with an average load factor of 80 percent, namely 7.5 percentage points higher versus the same time frame in 2022, with an increase in passenger revenue of +83 percent compared to the first 9 months of last year. We are now looking confidently to the future, with a focus
on intercontinental development.
Our next step will be the opening of the new Rome Fiumicino – Rio de Janeiro nonstop flight. South America, where we already operate to Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires, is a market in which we are a leader in terms of traffic to and from Italy thanks to one of the largest Italian communities in the world.
From December we will return to fly to the Maldives, a highly coveted destination for leisure traffic. – added the CCO – There are important plans to expand the intercontinental network also in the summer of 2024, with focus on North America.
In April we will open the nonstop flight to Chicago and in May we will fly to Canada with the new Toronto direct route. Both destinations will be operated from Rome Fiumicino. This will be achieved thanks to the continuous renewal of our fleet, which will also see the entry of the new Airbus A321neo and A220–100, both latest–generation aircraft”.
Below in detail is the ITA Airways’ new flight operation for the upcoming 2023–2024 winter and the 2024 summer seasons:
• From October 29, 2023, the new flight from Rome Fiumicino to Rio de Janeiro will be operated with Airbus A330. It will have a daily frequency with departure from Rome Fiumicino airport at 9:50 p.m. and arrival at Rio de Janeiro International Airport at 6:05 a.m., local time. The flight from Rio de Janeiro will start operation on October 30, 2023, with a daily frequency: departure at 3:45 p.m. and landing at Rome Fiumicino at 6:45 a.m., local time.
• From December 16, 2023, the new direct flight from Rome Fiumicino to Malè (Maldives) will be operated with Airbus A330, with 3–5 weekly frequencies depending on the period.
• From April 7, 2024, a new direct flight from Rome Fiumicino to Chicago will be launched with 6 weekly frequencies that will become 7 in June. This new nonstop flight to Chicago will be available for sale starting today.
• From May 1, 2024, a new nonstop flight will be operated from Rome Fiumicino to Toronto, with 6 weekly frequencies that will become 7 from June.
The upcoming summer season offers the expansion of the international network with new direct flights from Rome Fiumicino:
➢ from May 2024 to Riyadh
➢ from June 2024 to Accra and Kuwait
➢ from July 2024 to Dakar
➢ from October 2024 toward Jeddah
2023 also saw the growth of ITA Airways’ fleet which now counts 79 Airbus aircraft. Of these, 29 are of latest generation and include 11 A320neo, 7 A220–300, 5 A330–900 and 6 A350–900.
The first Airbus A321neo, a brand–new aircraft for the Company, is scheduled to join the fleet by the end of this year. It is the first narrow body aircraft featuring a three–class configuration: Business Class (12 seats), Premium Economy (12 seats) and Economy (141 seats of which 12 are dedicated to Comfort Economy).
The A321neo sports the cabin design by Walter de Silva, conveying Italian elegance and style, as well as all the distinctive elements of the new ITA Airways fleet, including new colors and new materials, latest generation seats, Airspace Cabin with new ITA Airways lighting system and a more spacious XL overhead compartment.
The entertainment system for each seat features “on–demand” video and audio and latest generation screens.
The first Airbus A220–100 will join the fleet by the end of 2023 to reinforce the regional segment. It is the smallest jetliner in Airbus commercial aircraft offer and is particularly suitable for short–haul due to its efficiency and comfort.
2023 has been a year full of news for Volare, ITA Airways’ loyalty program, that has already reached the milestone of more than 1.5 million members. Built on the values of Freedom, Personalization, Choice, and Connection, the program has 20 partners to date, for both accrual and redemption and is increasingly dynamic and able to offer a personalized experience to all members. It was also the year of the launch of the ITA Airways American Express co–branded cards, including three different options: ITA Airways American Express Credit Card, ITA Airways Gold American Express and ITA Airways Platinum American Express Credit Card.
Another novelty launched this year is the Executive Reserved, dedicated to high value customers, who can benefit from exclusive offers and tailor–made services courtesy of specific agreements with selected partners, including Forte Village hotels, Palazzo Doglio, Palazzo Fiuggi Wellness Medical Retreat, the historic Neapolitan luxury brand E. Marinella, and the Rocco Forte Verdura Resort. Finally, Executive Club members can give the Premium status to another Volare member: this upgrade allows beneficiaries to experience some of the programme’s most exclusive advantages such as fast track, lounge access and extra baggage.
