ITA Airways: 2026-2030 plan approved, fleet and network development a half disappointment

ITA Airways ahead slowly. The BoD of Italy's largest carrier approved the 2026-2030 Business Plan which defines the consolidation processes of ITA in the Lufthansa Group and integration into Star Alliance, fleet growth and network development.

"In terms of international alliances, the Plan provides for full integration into Star Alliance starting in early 2026 and the definition, subject to relevant approvals by the relevant competition authorities, Of joint ventures A++ concerning flights between Europe and North America and J+ concerning flights between Europe and Japan." reads the carrier's statement, which adds how "these alliances will ensure greater interoperability of services for passengers, along with integration between the Volare and Miles&More loyalty programs."

As for the network, it reiterates its desire to expand long-haul connections from the Rome Fiumicino hub with "new routes that will connect the Rome Fiumicino hub with strategic destinations in North America, South America, Asia and Africa.".

However, Going into the specifics of the fleet, this "will average 100 aircraft by 2030...." however, which is the number of machines already in ITA's force today. In the specifics of long-range aircraft, then, the Plan calls for "the introduction of one additional long-range aircraft for each year of the Plan arc, starting in 2026, as part of a strategy to bring in the latest generation of aircraft at the same time as phasing out older generation aircraft."

ITA is still waiting for the delivery of five Airbus A330-900s, which were supposed to arrive by the end of 2025 (thus bringing the -900 fleet to 16 aircraft) but, having not received any in a year now, is likely to complete order receipt in late 2026. With the arrival of the last five A330-900s, the remaining A330-200s inherited from Alitalia will be withdrawn from service.

The Plan then tells us. From 2026 to 2030, ITA will receive five more widebodies, of which he does not specify the type (but it is taken for granted that they are Airbus, and therefore A330-900 or A350-900).

The point is that five airplanes in as many years is very little for long-haul network growth to be in any meaningful way. Especially if such expansion were to take place in South America or Asia, i.e., on routes of ten and more flight hours that require significant machine hours/machinery.

Five more aircraft will mean three or at most four more destinations served by ITA from Rome Fiumicino over the five-year period from 2026 to 2030 o an increase in frequencies to destinations currently In the network.

Certainly, when in the aftermath of the announcement of the agreement with Lufthansa there was talk of 'upgrading' the Fiumicino hub, much more was to be expected.

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