Here are all the blue champions who have their names printed on the fuselage of an ITA Airways plane

A few days ago, the survey "Azure Naming", an initiative of ITA Airways by which users were asked to nominate the names of non-active blue champions and champions to be named after the planes with the new livery.

The first aircraft to enter the fleet with Blue livery was the Airbus A320 dedicated to the champion Paolo Rossi, operational since last December 24, 2021. Since the beginning of 2022, however, it has been the turn of the two A319s dedicated to Peter Mennea e Gino Bartali and the A320 dedicated to Fausto Coppi.

These were the four names chosen by the company. On January 24, 2022, the ball was passed to ITA Airways followers who were pleased to nominate their blue champions and champions.

"The survey was a huge success," explain ITA, "and testified how the choice of putting the customer at the center of its business is a winning one, because it makes customers feel like protagonists and above all puts into practice in the service offered the choice coming from those who will use it. In addition, the survey confirmed how the flag carrier's tricolor is a value felt also by the world of the web, which testified to the spirit and importance of feeling and being Italian and the pride of seeing ITA Airways' blue sports champions flying on its planes."

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From the many nominations received from followers, ITA Airways has chosen the following blue champions and champions for its 22 aircraft with the new livery:

• Joseph and Carmine Abbagnale
• James Agostini
• Michele Alboreto
• Alberto Ascari
• Roberto Baggio
• Gino Bartali
• Enzo Bearzot
• Novella Calligaris
• Deborah Compagnoni
• Fausto Coppi
• Alessandro Del Piero
• Marcello Lippi
• Andrea Lucchetta
• Paolo Maldini
• Dino Meneghin
• Tazio Nuvolari
• Adriano Panatta
• Federica Pellegrini
• Flavia Pennetta
• Gigi Riva
• Valentino Rossi
• Francesca Schiavone
• Sara Simeoni
• Marco Simoncelli
• Gustav Thoeni
• Alberto Tomba
• Francesco Totti

It is not only ITA that has chosen this path, other carriers have also made similar decisions, for example, Air Serbia named one of its planes after tennis champion Novak Djokovic.

• Curiosities

ITA Airways Platinum American Express Card

100,000 Volare points upon reaching 6,000 in spending within 3 months*

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• 100,000 Volare points upon reaching €6,000 in spending in the first 3 months after the Card is issued
• Earn 1.5 Volare points for every euro spent and an additional 3 Volare points (for a total of 4.5 Volare points) for every euro spent on ticketing purchases and other services offered by ITA Airways
• Access to the Premium Club of ITA Airways' Volare program.
• ITA Airways Lounge Access
• Free excess baggage
• Points Back, Fast Track and Priority Boarding

Advertising message with promotional purpose. *Offer valid online only from October 19 to December 10, 2024 and reserved for ITA Airways Customers enrolled in the Volare program who apply for an ITA Airways Platinum American Express Card and become a Cardholder. You will receive 100,000 bonus points on your Volare account upon reaching €6,000 of American Express Card spending within the first 3 months of issuance, which you can use, for example, to claim ITA Airways award tickets. Volare points will be credited to your statement within 12 weeks from the date the last transaction was made to reach the above spending threshold. For terms and conditions of all Card benefits go to https://www.americanexpress.com/it- en/benefits/card-ita-airways-platino/index.html. For more information on economic and contractual terms and conditions consult the General Card Terms and Conditions and the attached Information Sheets by visiting americanexpress.co.uk/termsconditions. Before applying for the Card, remember to download and keep a copy of the pre-contractual and contractual documentation related to the Card you are applying for. Issuance of the Card is at the discretion of American Express.

ITA Airways Gold American Express Credit Card

50,000 Volare points upon reaching 3,000 in spending within 3 months*

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• 50,000 Volare points upon reaching €3,000 in spending in the first 3 months after Card issuance
• Earn 1.25 Volare points for every euro spent and an additional 1.5 Volare points (for a total of 2.75 Volare points) for every euro spent on ticketing and other ITA Airways services
• Access by right to the Plus level of the Volare program
• Points Back
• Airport benefits: fast track, priority boarding and access to ITA Airways lounges.

Advertising message with promotional purpose. *Offer valid online only from October 19 to December 10, 2024 and reserved for ITA Airways Customers enrolled in the Volare program who apply for an ITA Airways Gold American Express Credit Card and become a Cardholder. You will receive 50,000 bonus points on your Volare account upon reaching €3,000 of American Express Card spending within the first 3 months of issuance, which you can use, for example, to claim ITA Airways award tickets. Volare points will be credited to your statement within 12 weeks from the date the last transaction was made to reach the above spending threshold. For terms and conditions of all Card benefits go to https://www.americanexpress.com/it-it/benefici/carta-di-credito-ita-airways-oro/index.html. For more information on the economic and contractual terms and conditions consult the General Regulations and the Basic European Consumer Credit Information by visiting americanexpress.co.uk/termsconditions. Before applying for the Card, remember to download and keep a copy of the pre-contractual and contractual documentation related to the Card you are applying for. Issuance of the Card is at the discretion of American Express.