
(AGENPARL) – ven 12 maggio 2023 PRESS RELEASE
ITA Airways takes part in the 2023 edition of SkyTeam’s Sustainable Flight Challenge
Four ITA Airways’ flights focused on greater sustainability participate in the competition:
a Rome Fiumicino-Miami round-trip flight scheduled for 20 May followed by a Rome Fiumicino-Barcelona round-trip flight scheduled for 28 May
Rome, 12 May 2023 – ITA Airways is taking part in the 2023 edition of SkyTeam’s Sustainable Flight Challenge, following last year’s success when the Italian flag carrier won two awards. Last year, ITA Airways took first place in the “Greatest CO2 Reduction Medium-haul” and “Best Waste Management” categories, as well as the title of “Best Employee Engagement”, highlighting the work and team spirit that animated the participation of ITA Airways’ people.
This year, ITA Airways is participating in The Sustainable Flight Challenge with four flights:
The first two flights will be on the intercontinental Rome Fiumicino-Miami route, operated with an Airbus A330. Flight AZ630 departs Rome Fiumicino on 20 May at 10:40, arriving in Miami at 15:55, and flight AZ631 will depart Miami same-day at 19:25, arriving at ITA’s Fiumicino hub at 11:35 the day after.
The other two flights will be operated on the international Rome-Barcelona route with an Airbus A320neo. Flight AZ074 departs Fiumicino on 28 May at 09:00, arriving in Barcelona at 10:50, and flight AZ077 on the same day, departing at 11:40 and arriving in Fiumicino at 13:25.
ITA Airways will develop and integrate a series of extraordinary activities in coordination with all departments on all flights, in addition to the usual operational procedures. With a view to efficiency and reducing environmental impact, these activities will concern all flight and ground operations: from route planning and airport handling to flight to specific on-board activities designed to limit CO2 emissions as much as possible. Activities will include:
Choice of aircraft and use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), a biofuel produced from various waste materials that can reduce emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional jet fuel
More sustainable catering, with attention to supply chain and seasonal produce
Waste recycling and use of compostable materials instead of single-use plastic
Dedicated passenger experience also including a digital newsstand service
Use of carbon offsets by supporting environmentally friendly projects – natural or social – certified based on accredited and internationally recognized standards.
Sustainability has been one of ITA Airways’ strategic pillars since day one. Crucial to the company’s Sustainability Plan is the renewal of its fleet: by the end of the Plan, 80% of the fleet will consist of new generation aircraft, consuming 25% less fuel and reducing CO? emissions.
The Sustainable Flight Challenge (TSFC) exists to challenge the aviation industry by stimulating and accelerating innovation towards a sustainable future. TSFC was first presented in 2022 by SkyTeam, a leading airline alliance with member carriers around the world. This year’s challenge is scheduled between 15 May – 28 May 2023 in which 22 participating airlines will implement their most sustainable solutions and compete for awards in 31 categories. This challenge – including flight and ground operations – is another step in the aviation industry’s path towards a more sustainable future.
For further information please check of the Sustainable Flight Challenge website: https://sustainableflightchallenge.com/default
For press information:
Nicolò Mardegan – Head of Communication and Institutional Relations
About ITA Airways
ITA Airways is a network air carrier wholly owned by the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance. Its mission is to provide high-quality efficient and innovative domestic and international air transport services, as a means of boosting tourism and trade with foreign countries also by implementing integrated mobility projects. ITA Airways puts its customers at the heart of its strategy (by ramping up the digitization of its processes, to deliver best-in-class travel experience and tailored services), with a focus on sustainability encompassing a range of environmental (use of new green and state-of-the-art aircraft and sustainable aviation fuels), social (equality and inclusion for building a genderless company) and governance (integration of sustainability in strategies and internal processes) factors. ITA Airways is a SkyTeam member from October 2021.
About SkyTeam
SkyTeam is dedicated to powering a seamless customer journey, with all members working together to connect millions of passengers across an extensive global network. The members are Aeroflot (suspended), Aerolíneas Argentinas, Aeromexico, Air Europa, Air France, China Airlines, China Eastern, Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Garuda Indonesia, ITA Airways, Kenya Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air, Middle East Airlines, Saudia, TAROM, Vietnam Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and XiamenAir.