FARNBOROUGH—Nine months after it commenced operations, Italian flag carrier ITA Airways has confirmed some more of its maintenance arrangements, announcing agreements with Rolls-Royce and Airbus at the Farnborough International Airshow.
The government-backed airline, which succeeded defunct carrier Alitalia, has agreed on a deal with Rolls-Royce for TotalCare aftermarket services coverage that will run for approximately 12 years.
The agreement covers off-wing repair and overhaul for Rolls-Royce’s Trent XWB engines, which will power its fleet of six Airbus A350-900 aircraft.
To date, Rome-headquartered ITA Airways has taken delivery of six of the widebody aircraft. The first of the scheduled orders was delivered in May on lease from ALAFCO (Aviation Lease and Finance Co.) and went into operation the following month.
In another maintenance-related announcement, ITA Airways has signed up for Airbus’ Skywise Health Monitoring fleet performance tool, which will enable the airline to access real-time data for its maintenance operation.
The agreement will cover maintenance planning activities on ITA Airways’ all-Airbus fleet of more than 60 aircraft encompassing A320, A330 and A350 aircraft, the OEM confirmed.
The carrier will further ramp up its fleet volumes later this year, and confirmed that delivery of its first A220 and A320neo aircraft are expected in the fourth quarter.
“The engines form an important part of our business plan and our goal of operating a new environmentally friendly fleet,” says ITA Airways Chief Technology Officer Francesco Presicce.
