(AGENPARL) – ven 12 luglio 2024 PRESS RELEASE
ITA Airways and the Italian Red Cross sign a Memorandum of Understanding
Rome, July 12, 2024 – ITA Airways, the Italian reference airline, and the Italian Red Cross, a volunteer
organization committed to providing health and social assistance in both peacetime and conflict, have signed
a Memorandum of Understanding. The signing ceremony took place today at ITA Airways’ headquarters in
the presence of Andrea Benassi, General Manager of ITA Airways, and Rosario Valastro, Chairman of the
Italian Red Cross.
The document aims to strengthen the collaboration between the two parties, initiating joint initiatives related
to training, advocacy, information dissemination, and raising awareness on several issues of mutual priority
interest.
The agreement coincides with the 160th Anniversary of the Italian Red Cross. To celebrate this significant
milestone, the 160th-anniversary logo of the Italian Red Cross has been placed on the livery of an ITA Airways
Airbus A319, dedicated to the champion Novella Calligaris.
“I am honored to sign this collaboration agreement with such a prestigious and noble organization as the
Italian Red Cross”, said Andrea Benassi, General Manager of ITA Airways. “Our Company shares
principles related to social sustainability and the protection of health and life with the Italian Red Cross.
Displaying the 160th-anniversary logo of the Italian Red Cross on one of our aircraft demonstrates our joint
commitment to fostering a culture of care for communities and individuals in vulnerable situations”.
“It is important to know that we can rely on the support of our Country’s reference airline”, added Rosario
Valastro, Chairman of the Italian Red Cross. “We are together to share a journey that will see us walk side
by side, including in first aid training activities. I thank ITA Airways for their sensitivity during this important
time, our 160th anniversary. I hope this collaboration serves as a concrete incentive for our Volunteers to
tackle the challenges ahead providing help wherever it’s needed.”
For press information:
Pietro Caldaroni, Head of Communication and Institutional Relations
Marco Ottaviani, Responsabile Servizio Stampa Croce Rossa Italiana
About ITA Airways
ITA Airways is a company totally owned by the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance for the exercise of business in the air transport sector. ITA
Airways aims at creating an efficient and innovative air carrier that will become a reference point in providing Italy with quality connectivity both in terms
of international destinations, thus boosting tourism and foreign trade, and within the Country, also taking advantage of the train-air integrated mobility.
ITA Airways will place the best customer service at the center of its strategy (through a strong digitization of processes that ensure a best-in-class
experience and personalized services), combined with sustainability, in its environmental (new green and technologically advanced aircraft, use of
sustainable fuels), social (equality and inclusion for a gender-neutral company) and governance (integration of sustainability into internal strategies
and processes) aspects. ITA Airways is a member of SkyTeam alliance as of October 2021.
About the Italian Red Cross
The Italian Red Cross is a voluntary organisation whose purpose is health and social assistance in times of peace and conflic t. An association of high
standing, it is placed under the patronage of the President of the Republic. The Italian Red Cross is part of the International Red Cross Movement. In
its actions at international level, it coordinates with the International Committee of the Red Cross, in countries in conflict, and with the International
Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies for other interventions. Today there are about 150,000 Italian Red Cross v olunteers active
throughout the country in more than 670 territorial Committees.