Airline review: One of the roomiest seats in economy on new flagship carrier
The flight
ITA Airways flight AZ585; Airbus A320 economy class; Tirana to Rome; departs 6.35pm; flight time 1 hour, 25 minutes (on time). ITA Airways has taken over what remained of the Alitalia network and fleet.
ITA Airways’ Airbus aircraft on the tarmac.Credit: Bloomberg
Frequency
Twice daily.
The loyalty scheme
Volare is ITA’s loyalty program. Points are earned on flights, hotel stays (including Accor) and car rental.
Carbon emissions
One passenger flying economy class amounts to 0.164 tonnes. Launched in 2021, when it took over embattled airline Alitalia, ITA (pronounced eat-ah) is the new state-owned flag carrier of Italy. As an aviation newcomer, it has a clean slate to prioritise sustainability, which it is doing with compostable materials on-board, the partial use of sustainable aviation fuel and a plan to have new-generation aircraft make up 80 per cent of the fleet by 2026.
Checking in
Smooth and easy. Tirana International Airport in Albania’s capital is compact (just seven gates) and well-organised. I arrive two hours before scheduled departure and breeze through check-in, security and passport control. The ITA check-in attendant informs me it’s a full flight (aren’t they all now?) and says I can check my cabin wheelie for free, which I do after taking out valuables.
The seat
There are 114 economy class seats in a 3-3 configuration. I’m in window seat 18F. The pitch of 31-32 inches (78.7-81.3 cm) and width of 17.1-18.1 inches (43.4-46 cm) is roomier than many other airlines’ economy class. There are no USB or power outlet chargers. In the days leading up to the flight I receive several emails inviting me to bid on an upgrade to business class. It’s worth noting that middle seats in ITA’s business class cabin on the A320s are blocked, so there’s plenty of elbow room for those in the aisle and window seats. For a longer flight, I would almost certainly have put in a bid to try my luck for an upgrade.
Baggage
My fare includes one checked bag (up to 23 kilograms), plus one carry-on bag (not exceeding eight kilograms) and a personal item. The airline’s proactive approach of inviting passengers to check their carry-on bag for free pays off. We board quickly and there’s no jostling for overhead bin space.
Entertainment
There are no seatback screens, magazines or shopping catalogues, so entertainment is BYO. Through a partnership with PressReader, it’s possible to access digital magazines and newspapers on one’s own device, but I don’t have Wi-Fi or data, so I can’t download the app.
Service
Announcements are in English and Italian. Warm and attentive service from the well-presented crew in stylish navy/white/grey uniforms by Italian fashion designer Brunello Cucinelli.
Food
This is a full-service airline and the refreshments are complimentary. A choice of soft drinks, juices, tea and coffee is served, along with cookies or rosemary crackers.
One more thing
Some of the aircraft still have Alitalia livery and many of the crew members are ex-Alitalia. The new ITA livery is a solid Savoy blue colour, with an elegant nod to the Italian flag tricolour on the tail.
The verdict
I’m one satisfied customer. There’s nothing at all to complain about on this non-stop, on-time international flight with free snacks and checked luggage, all for just €115 ($190); grazie.
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