What is ITA Airways? Your guide to flying Italy’s national airline
You may not be familiar with ITA Airways, especially if you haven’t traveled to Italy.
Although the airline has only operated in its current form since 2021, it has quickly become a leading carrier in Europe thanks to an impressive onboard passenger experience and an ever-growing route network.
Celebrating the best of Italy, here is everything you need to know about flying ITA Airways.
Related: Insider tips for eating and drinking your way through Italy
What is ITA Airways?
The flag carrier of Italy, ITA was established in 2021 as the successor to now-defunct Alitalia.
It operates domestic and international flights, connecting Italian destinations with 70 cities worldwide. The airline’s modern and diverse fleet of about 100 aircraft features short-, medium- and long-haul aircraft.
ITA was a member of the SkyTeam alliance, but it recently left the group following an investment by Star Alliance-based Lufthansa Group.
ITA Airways destinations and route network
ITA’s main hub is at Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport (FCO). The airline operates flights to several European cities, as well as a limited number of destinations in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
In the Americas, ITA operates nonstop services from FCO to:
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- Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
- Dulles International Airport (IAD) near Washington, D.C.
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York City
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- Miami International Airport (MIA)
- O’Hare International Airport (ORD) in Chicago
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
- Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ)
- Buenos Aires Airport (EZE) in Argentina
- Sao Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport (GRU)
- Rio de Janeiro International Airport (GIG)
You might think the Italian national carrier would also operate from Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP), but the airline has instead opted to focus its long-haul operations from FCO.
ITA does operate some short-haul flights within Europe from Milan Linate Airport (LIN), a smaller business-focused airport closer to the city center.
If you want to travel to Milan from within Europe, flying to LIN is far more convenient and time-saving than flying to MXP, which is much farther from Milan’s center.
Related: Everyone is going to Sicily — try these 7 underrated places in Italy instead
Cabin classes and experience
On short-haul flights within Europe, ITA offers an economy class and a “Euro business“-style business class — an economy seat beside a blocked middle seat.
Economy passengers receive a complimentary snack and a selection of free drinks.
ITA business-class passengers on short-haul flights can enjoy a complimentary multicourse meal with hot and cold drinks, including alcohol.
ITA’s mid-haul flights on the Airbus A321neo to Africa and the Middle East offer economy, premium economy and business class.
Passengers in all cabins receive complimentary meals, beverages, inflight Wi-Fi, bedding and seatback entertainment.
The economy cabin is laid out in a 3-3 configuration, and the premium economy cabin has 12 seats in a 2-2 configuration. The latter is a class of service not often seen on a narrow-body aircraft.
Business class is arranged in a 1-1 configuration, with all passengers enjoying direct aisle access, lie-flat beds and seats facing toward the windows.
For an additional 100 euros ($105), business-class passengers can choose to reserve a seat in the first row. (The rate varies depending on the route.) This features extra personal space by way of a large ottoman that can have a bassinet attached, provide extra space for luggage or store personal items.
ITA’s long-haul fleet consists of Airbus A330-200, A330-900neo and A350-900 aircraft used for flights to North America, South America and Asia.
These aircraft are also in a three-cabin configuration with economy, premium economy and business class.
While the economy and premium economy seats are similar to the A321neo, the business-class cabin features a 1-2-1 configuration in either a reverse herringbone or staggered, forward-facing arrangement, depending on the aircraft type.
Business-class passengers can enjoy decadent gourmet Italian meals with options like a spritz and antipasti, a dedicated pasta course (with three choices) and Italian desserts.
ITA Airways baggage policy
All passengers can bring one full-size cabin bag on board that weighs no more than 18 pounds.
Economy Light fares on ITA do not come with a checked bag, though regular economy fares come with one 50-pound checked bag. Passengers traveling from Japan can bring an extra 50-pound checked bag. Those traveling from Ghana and Senegal in Economy Classic and Economy Flex can also check a second bag weighing 50 pounds.
Premium economy, business-class and superior-class passengers can check two 70-pound bags per passenger. Note: Business Classic passengers are limited to one 70-pound bag between Europe and North Africa, and Superior Classic passengers can only check one 70-pound bag, regardless of destination.
Additional checked baggage allowances are provided for Volare elite members as described below.
Related: Airline baggage fees: Here’s how much it costs to check a bag on major US airlines
ITA Airways business-class, premium economy and economy reviews
You can read a full review of ITA Airways’ A330-900neo business-class experience from FCO to Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in New Delhi, in which we declare the product to be one of the best business-class products offered by a European carrier.
For an in-depth video review of ITA’s A330-900neo in economy, premium economy and business class, check out TPG’s Departures YouTube channel.
ITA Airways frequent flyer program
ITA Airways’ Volare loyalty program rewards frequent flyers. It offers four membership tiers with the following benefits:
- Club Smart: This is the entry level where all members start.
- Club Plus: Flyers earn this after accruing 30,000 qualifying points. This includes bonus Volare points earned each time you travel; additional checked baggage allowance; priority check-in, boarding and baggage delivery; free seat selection; and dedicated customer service.
- Club Premium: Flyers earn this after accumulating 60,000 qualifying points. This includes all of the Club Plus benefits, plus lounge access and fast-track security.
- Club Excellence: Flyers earn this after collecting 90,000 qualifying points. This includes all of the Club Excellent benefits, plus “lounge-within-a-lounge” VIP access in Rome, free checked golf equipment and a free Club Premium card to gift to a family member or friend.
For each status level earned, members will retain the status until the end of the following calendar year.
Travelers can join Volare for free online, and the airline has occasionally offered generous status matches.
ITA is currently exiting the SkyTeam alliance and will eventually join Star Alliance in 2026. The Lufthansa Group — home to Star Alliance members Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines — has acquired a 41% stake in ITA.
The Italian government will continue to own the remaining 59%.
The ability to earn Volare points when crediting flights from most SkyTeam airlines — including Delta Air Lines, Air France, KLM, Korean Air, Aeromexico and Virgin Atlantic — is being phased out; all ties are expected to end by April 30. But members of Lufthansa’s frequent flyer program, Miles & More, can now earn and redeem miles on ITA flights. ITA Volare members are able to earn and redeem on airlines within the Lufthansa Group. Flyers can expect more opportunities in 2026 when ITA moves into Star Alliance.
How to book ITA Airways with points and miles
You can redeem points in ITA’s Volare program against any cash fare at 0.5 euros (52 cents) per point. This means a one-way business-class flight from New York City to Rome could cost a staggering 800,000 Volare points per person — one of the most expensive transatlantic redemptions any airline loyalty program offers.
Given how difficult Volare points are to earn outside of Italy, this would not be a good way to redeem points.
A much better option is to book ITA flights using Virgin points through the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club program.
Where ITA availability exists (which can be booked online), Virgin has significantly lower redemption rates, including:
- 5,500 points in economy or 14,500 points in business class on flights up to 500 miles long, such as FCO to Zurich Airport (ZRH)
- 7,000 points in economy or 15,500 points in business class on flights 501 to 1,000 miles long, such as FCO to Heathrow Airport (LHR) in London or Athens International Airport (ATH) in Greece
- 10,000 points in economy or 21,500 points in business class on flights 1,001 to 1,500 miles long, such as FCO to Cairo International Airport (CAI) or Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) in Tel Aviv
- 11,500 points in economy or 35,000 points in business class on flights 1,501 to 2,250 miles long, such as FCO to King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) in Saudi Arabia
- 15,500 points in economy or 40,000 points in business class on flights 2,251 to 3,000 miles long, such as FCO to Dubai International Airport (DXB)
- 20,500 points in economy or 60,000 points in business class on flights 3,001 to 4,000 miles long
- 25,500 points in economy or 75,000 points in business class on flights 4,001 to 5,000 miles long, such as FCO to DEL
- 31,000 points in economy or 85,000 points in business class on flights 5,001 to 6,000 miles long, such as FCO to Miami International Airport (MIA)
- 37,000 points in economy or 100,000 points in business class on flights 6,001-plus miles long, such as FCO to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) or San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Unfortunately, ITA Airways’ premium economy product is not bookable with Virgin points.
Flying Club is a transfer partner of every major transferable point currency:
Some of the above programs offer regular transfer bonuses to Flying Club, meaning you might need even fewer points than you first thought.
Many of these programs offer cards that feature terrific welcome bonuses. Here are some of our favorite travel rewards cards that earn transferable points that can be converted to Virgin points:
Related: Flexibility is key: Why I (mostly) like the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club changes
Bottom line
Though ITA Airways is a relatively new airline in its current branding and format, it has quickly developed a solid reputation as a leading European carrier for a premium passenger experience.
The airline’s investment in new aircraft, routes and onboard cuisine makes it a solid option for traveling across the Atlantic and beyond via its major hub in Rome. ITA celebrates the best of Italy on the ground and in the air. Travelers can book flights at great rates using Virgin points, so it should be on your radar for your next flight to or through Europe.
