ITA Airways is the official carrier of the Milan Cortina Olympics
In an announcement that combines sports, aviation and Italianness, ITA Airways made official its partnership as Official Airline Sponsor [...]

In an announcement that combines sports, aviation and Italianness, ITA Airways made official its partnership as the Official Airline Sponsor of the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The news was made public in an equally symbolic context: the inauguration of the new Runway Lounge at Milan Linate Airport, one of the main gateways to Lombardy's capital city.
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This is not a random choice: the new lounge embodies the flag carrier's ambition to position itself as a reference point for premium made-in-Italy transportation, and it becomes the ideal theater to launch a collaboration that aims to take the tricolor aloft - literally - during one of the most anticipated sporting events of the decade.
Italy takes altitude with sports: between shared values and global visibility
The agreement is the result of the synergy between ITA Airways and Minister for Sport and Youth Andrea Abodi, and is based on an alignment of values: passion, determination, team spirit, sustainability and, of course, the pride of representing Italy in the world. A strategic partnership that offers the company not only international visibility, but also an opportunity to strengthen its role as an ambassador of Italian lifestyle and excellence.
Less than a year before the official start of the Games, Italy is preparing to host the Winter Olympic event for the third time. ITA Airways will ideally fly with athletes, fans and enthusiasts, reinforcing the country's image as a hub of hospitality, hospitality and innovation.
Planes in Olympic livery and contest dedicated to travelers
Among the most visible (and beloved by plane spotters) initiatives are two customized airplanes: a A320 dedicated to Gustav Thöni and a A320neo paying tribute to Enrico Fabris, two legends of Italian winter sports. The liveries will be embellished with exclusive illustrations signed by Emiliano Ponzi, an artist who has previously collaborated with ITA Airways on the Sustainability Manifesto.
Not just aesthetics though: aboard the campaign also takes flight a sweepstakes titled "Destination Milan Cortina 2026", open to all passengers over 18 years of age residing in Italy who purchase an ITA Airways ticket between May 7 and November 30, 2025. Up for grabs each month, Exclusive experiences at the Olympic and Paralympic Games, as well as a final superprize that promises to make sports and travel lovers dream.
The company's commitment, "Our heart flies blue."
"Being by the side of Milan Cortina 2026 means strongly reaffirming our bond with the country and with the blue sport," said the President of ITA Airways, Sandro Pappalardo, emphasizing the carrier's commitment to supporting events that represent Italy and its values around the world. "The new lounge at Linate is just the latest piece of a mosaic built on synergies with the best Italian brands, to offer a customer experience with Italy at its heart."
Of the same opinion John Malagò, president of the Milan Cortina 2026 Foundation, who called the partnership a true "historic step" capable of strengthening the Olympic project and its legacy. "ITA Airways perfectly embodies the values of Italian sports and hospitality," he commented, "and is a strategic ally in the global promotion of our country.