A new route for ITA Airways' 'little gem': from June, the A321neo will fly Rome-Tel Aviv

More than six months late, starting in June theITA Airways' Airbus A321neo Will make its debut on the Rome-Tel Aviv.

The Israeli city Should have been the first, early December 2023, to be served by the jewel of the Italian flag carrier, with its Cabin in three classes of service including a Business Class equipped with 12 lie-flat seats in 1-1 configuration.

However, The deteriorating situation in Israel and the Gaza Strip. had prompted the carrier's top management to Suspend all flights to Israel from the second half of October. And the debut of the 321neo on Rome-Tel Aviv had never happened.

Instead, while ITA announced destinations in the Middle East and Africa to which the plane would be used starting in spring/summer 2024, the jewel was being 'diverted' to intra-European routes: before London Heathrow, a route on which he actually made his debut last December, then also Paris Charles De Gaulle, Madrid, Amsterdam.

With the only non-European exception being the Cairo. Routes, in short, between two and three hours of flight time.

Far shorter than the 5-6 hour ones on which the plane will be used starting May 5 on the Rome-Riyadh route, to which will be added the Rome-Accra, the Rome-Kuwait City, the Rome-Jeddah and the Rome-Dakar.

There, the 321neo will be able to express its full potential, in terms of comfort and on-board service. But, meanwhile, the plane is also enjoying (perhaps) unexpected success on the shorter European routes and on the route to Cairo. To the point that ITA would decide to keep it in service on Paris, Madrid, Amsterdam (London Heathrow has not been in the company's network since last April 1.) also when it starts intercontinental connections, during the times and days when it will not be deployed to Africa or to the Middle East.

As well as, since June, to Tel Aviv, where the 321neo will operate the second daily connection to and from Rome Fiumicino. The operating schedule calls for departure from Rome at 10:10 p.m. with arrival in Israel at 3:10 a.m., while on the return it will take off from Tel Aviv at 5:15 a.m. and land in Fiumicino at 8:00 a.m., thus being able to take advantage of the morning connections operated by ITA to North America.

Just a few days ago, the fourth A321neo (of the total 7 ordered by ITA from Airbus) arrived at the carrier's Rome hub.

The plane is named after fencing champion Elisa Di Francisca, while the three that preceded it in fotta bear the names of swimming champion Massimiliano Rosolino, fencer Edoardo Mangiarotti, and basketball player Luigi Datome.