ITA Airways' A321neo is the most FIGO aircraft in the Italian airline's entire fleet
Yesterday, Airbus delivered to ITA Airways the first A321neo, of the nine that the Italian flag carrier ordered [...]
ITA Airways
SkyTeam
Yesterday Airbus delivered to ITA Airways the first A321neo, of the nine that the Italian flag carrier ordered when in 2021 announced its decision to focus on a 100% Airbus fleet.
In this article:
A321 variant is a "gamechanger" for Airbus in terms of sales, but especially for companies it is the plane of the "industrial" revolution There are already companies flying across the Atlantic Ocean today with these single-aisle planes, and tomorrow, with the advent of the XLR version, eXtra Long Range, routes will multiply allowing carriers to open unimagined routes like a Genoa New York or a Turin Miami, at an affordable cost and with much easier planes to fill.
Why this A321neo is (almost) perfect
This is the plane that the initial management (Altavilla/Lazzerini) had the courage to order, unfortunately not in the LR variant. An aircraft configured in 3.5 classes of service, the only European carrier to have made this choice. As mentioned already companies such as TAP, SAS, and Aer Lingus fly intercontinental with these planes, but no one in the old continent has chosen to outfit the largest of the A320 family planes in this manner.
Let's understand the machine itself is the same one that WizzAir and many other carriers use, I just flew there with Turkish Airlines, But it is how the Italian company decided to set it up that makes the difference and I am sad about Not being able to take off Dec. 1 on the inaugural flight, ticket which as usual the bum bought himself and which I was looking forward to reviewing.
A true business class
ITA Airways' choice was to. Configure these A321neo as long-haul aircraft, a true business class cabin configured with seats that become beds, direct aisle access, and all the optional extras that the European passenger is used to finding only, and only, on wide-body, long-haul aircraft.
Of course the light-colored carpet and equally white interior are beautiful to look at, but impossible to maintain as seen daily when flying on the rest of ITA's new fleet, But the possibility of flying mid-range with this configuration is, for ITA, a real chance to diversify from the "mass" of European carriers. Of course, as always, it will have to be seen whether in addition to iron, it will also change what is called soft product in technical jargon because otherwise it will be like missing a penalty shot on an empty goal.
The 1A and 1F seats are undoubtedly the coolest seats in the Italian company's entire fleet, amazing how ITA has persisted in the non-installation of doors, otherwise they would have been at the level of JetBlue's Mint Suite, no ifs or buts.
The Mint Suite on Jetblue's A321
The rationale is that being the first row there is much more space for the passenger, As you can see in the picture there is a perfect bench for Turn into a small office where two travelers could work together Or have lunch like in a restaurant.
Obviously before I make a final judgment I have to fly there, today I just comment on the photos that ITA Airways' press office sent me this morning.
The same premium economy as long-haul
Behind the business cabin is the Premium Economy cabin, and the seats are the same ones that passengers find on wide-body aircraft today, a product that other carriers put in business class and that ITA instead chose to offer on this model of aircraft that, according to the company's plans, should serve as Air bridge between Rome and the Middle East and Central West Africa.
In economy as in long-haul
It is not only premium passengers who are pampered, but also everyone who sits in tourist class. The configuration is 3-3, but it is not the same product that you have on the rest of ITA's fleet today, such as will not be remotely comparable to flying from Rome to Abu Dhabi with Wizzair. Also on board this aircraft, the company has installed some economy comfort armchairs, that is, the ones that give a few extra inches for the legs, but most importantly it is the premium trim with all the long haul options, starting with the IFE.
As you can see all passengers will have a very generously sized personal screen, no technical specifications have been distributed at the moment, but it would appear to be a screen comparable to the one found on the A330neo that entered the fleet this summer.
Also note how the rows are staggered, a situation that is not present in any aircraft in ITA's current fleet, and which will also give amggior travel comfort in tourist class.
In conclusion
In my reviews I always try to be "honest and sincere" and Today I can't hide my excitement about this new machine. What a pity, indeed PECCATO, that they did not have the courage to push all the way and not go for the LR (Long Range) version would have allowed to fly to the USA or India with these planes starting from Rome. However, today I want to look at the glass half full and say BRAVO to those who chose to offer a product different from all, one that should push the passenger to say, I spend more but I fly better. Now we wait for takeoff.
