Ita Airways Fleet Modernization Takes A Severe Hit As A330-900neo Deliveries Are Delayed, Extending The Timeline For Vital Long-haul Fleet Transition

Sunday, July 27, 2025

ITA Airways’ long-haul fleet modernization plans person taken a superior blow. There are nary engines to powerfulness nan A330-900neo planes, and nan hold successful their transportation is now mounting backmost nan airline’s expansive creation of overhauling its fleet. This it represents a setback for nan hose arsenic it looks to amended long-haul flying earlier 2025.

The airline’s fleet presently includes 11 of these state-of-the-art aircraft, pinch a full of 16 A330-900neos planned for its long-haul operations. However, delays successful receiving nan remaining 5 craft are throwing a wrench into ITA’s eager timeline for fleet renewal, primitively slated for completion by nan extremity of 2025.

The airline’s strategy centered connected phasing retired its older A330-200s, which were inherited from a predecessor carrier, successful favour of nan much businesslike and modern A330-900neo. These caller craft were expected to switch nan A330-200s wholly by nan adjacent of 2025, but pinch only 11 of nan expected 16 successful operation, this scheme now faces important delays. The rumor lies successful nan hold of further A330-900neos that were expected to beryllium delivered complete nan past year, pinch nary caller arrivals since July 2024.

Initially, nan craft deliveries were connected track, pinch ITA Airways receiving 1 A330-900neo each mates of months, starring to nan presence of nan first 11 planes by mid-2024. These craft featured caller compartment designs, offering a important upgrade successful comfortableness and service, particularly compared to nan A330-200s. However, pursuing nan past delivery, ITA Airways has been successful a holding shape arsenic nan remaining craft are still awaiting delivery.

The hold has been attributed to difficulties pinch motor supply. ITA’s A330-900neo fleet is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, and accumulation slowdowns astatine Rolls-Royce person caused a backlog, preventing nan timely transportation of nan basal engines. Photos circulating online show 2 A330-900neos successful ITA Airways’ signature livery but without engines, indicating that nan planes are fresh for transportation but awaiting motor installation earlier they tin acquisition nan last trial flights and beryllium delivered.

Once nan engines are installed, nan craft will request to acquisition a bid of rigorous trial flights earlier being handed complete to ITA Airways. This intends that it is improbable nan hose will person nan remaining 5 craft by nan extremity of 2025, arsenic primitively planned, pinch nan hold extending good beyond nan first transportation schedule.
The hose has continued to delegate its existing A330-900neos to cardinal long-haul routes, which see destinations crossed North America, South America, and Asia.
However, immoderate of these destinations will spot impermanent suspension during nan Winter 2025-2026 season. For example, flights to Boston and Washington will beryllium paused during nan wintertime months and will not resume until nan outpouring of 2026. Similarly, nan Chicago and Toronto routes will stay suspended until precocious March 2026.

This modern compartment creation offers a acold much luxurious acquisition than nan older A330-200s, which had less amenities and a little competitory onboard product. The displacement to A330-900neo craft plays a important domiciled successful ITA Airways’ efforts to modernize its fleet and supply an upgraded recreation acquisition for its passengers.

In statement pinch ITA Airways’ longstanding contented of honoring Italian sports figures, each of nan 11 A330-900neo craft is named aft an iconic jock from Italy’s rich | sports history. These names see celebrated figures specified arsenic Gelindo Bordin, Marco Tardelli, Lorenzo Bernardi, Gianmarco Pozzecco, and respective others. This contented reinforces nan beardown relationship betwixt nan hose and Italy’s sporting heritage.

While nan delays successful A330-900neo deliveries are frustrating, ITA Airways remains assured astir completing nan fleet renewal by 2025. The hose is committed to continuing its description into world markets while improving nan customer acquisition pinch modern, businesslike aircraft. Although setbacks are inevitable, ITA Airways is wished to meet its semipermanent goals and heighten its competitory position successful nan world aviation market.