The event started directly on board the Airbus A320neo, the first aircraft of its class entirely configured for ITA Airways and furnished with new interiors designed by Walter De Silva.
“ITA Airways celebrates an important achievement in its growth: today we’re showcasing the new interiors of our Airbus A320neo of the latest generation, the ITA Airways uniforms, now worn by all our cabin crew, and the new Hangar Lounge. – said Fabio Lazzerini, CEO and General Director of ITA Airways – We are as excited as we were on the first day, a little over a year ago, when we watched the takeoff of our first flight, with the clear ambition to deserve the role of Italian flagship airline, to be ambassadors of Made in Italy in the world. The mark of Italian style is on the entire travel experience with ITA Airways, from the moment our customers enter the airport until they reach their destination. – the CEO added – The Lounge is designed to be an integral part of that experience. The customer is able to recognize and appreciate the distinctive elements that make ITA Airways unique: the completely Italian reception, style and quality of our product”.
Welcoming guests were flight and airport staff in new uniforms made with the stylistic advice of Brunello Cucinelli, now on board all the Company's flights. Brunello Cucinelli offered the company and the country his creativity free of charge. The production of the new uniforms did not involve any additional costs. From today, a total of 1448 uniforms will be worn by ITA Airways cabin crews, in addition to 118 worn by the ground crew in the Italian and international airports served, and 91 in the Company’s Lounges. The project for the new uniforms is meant to highlight the incomparable elegance of the Cucinelli style. The men’s uniform consists of trimly fitted trousers worn with a one-and-a-half-breasted jacket, distinctive note of the male wardrobe. For the women, a matching set of jacket and pants was chosen to go with the skirt, balancing refined sartorial elegance with a contemporary touch given by the trim lines and volumes.
In line with the commitment to sustainability, one of the fundamental pillars of ITA Airways, the uniforms worn until now will not be eliminated, but will have a second life. As part of the program of circular economy made in ITA Airways, an “art wears sustainability” initiative will be presented soon, for which several independent artists at the main Italian fashion and design institutes will create actual works of art from the discontinued uniforms of the airline. The Circular Economy or creative reuse is one of the goals of the Green Value Chain of ITA Airways: through regenerative transformation, valuable new creations can be made of materials no longer in use, thus reducing their environmental impact.
The new uniforms were the calling card to come aboard the Airbus A320neo, named after the champion Carolina Kostner, and admire the new interiors designed by Walter De Silva, a project that has the aim of conveying a feeling of comfort in the limited space of an airplane cabin, coherent with the concept chosen for a voyage above the clouds, “the sky in a room”.
In his design of the interior for ITA Airways, Walter De Silva was inspired by the pleasant sensations of comfort, elegance and simplicity, but above all by materials and colors. As a whole, it is means to enhance the quality of life on board. For this reason, the materials and colors chosen are absolutely natural, in full respect of strict aeronautical standards, to guarantee maximum wellbeing on board in every situation.
The seats on the Airbus are equipped with USB A + C outlets for electrical recharging and, for the first time, the medium-range ITA Airways fleet will offer a service of connectivity for payment and free IFE wireless. The user experience will always be smooth and simple, with 90 hours of video programming and 12 hours of audio, updated bimonthly.
Technological and efficient, the new ITA Airways Airbus A320neo benefits from a 20% reduction in fuel consumption and CO2emissions per passenger compared to previous generation aircraft.
The keynote of the day devoted to ITA Airways news was the inauguration of the new Hangar Lounge. The lounge fulfills the ambitious mission of ITA Airways to be an ambassador of Italian excellence in the world and was developed thanks to important synergies with some of the most prestigious Italian brands, which share the same values and objectives: to contribute to the enhancement of the customer experience, offering a service that has Italy in its heart.
Designed by the branding agency Robilant Associati to establish an innovative, contemporary dialogue between ITA Airways and its passengers, the Lounge occupies an area of 980 square meters and has a maximum capacity of 150 people. It is entirely Made in Italy by a selection of partners with whom it was possible to develop an authentic project, unique for its kind.
The new ITA Airways Hangar Lounge, reserved for eligible passengers (business class passengers, Executive and Premium Volare members as well as Skyteam Elite Plus members), departing for domestic and international destinations in the Schengen area, offers a unique setting. Located beyond the security gates of Terminal 1 in boarding area A of the airport, in a particularly strategic position for ITA Airways passengers, it is ideal both for relaxing and for doing business.
To greet the customers at the entrance, all along the wall of the Lounge, there is a visual installation consisting of 72 blue ITA Airways cloches with videos of the destinations. A multi-visual “voyage” in which the customers will be projected directly into the destinations in the flagship carrier's network, so that their flight begins already in the Lounge.
In its focus on Italian excellence, special attention is reserved to food in the Hangar Lounge. A hot buffet is available in the central island at lunch and dinner times, as well as at cocktails hour, and a coffee shop supplies beverages at all hours, with a qualified barman at the client’s disposal to offer coffee from the collection of specialty coffee 1895 Coffee Designers by Lavazza, as well as a list of iconic cocktails created by Campari Group which they can enjoy from the comfort of their Poltrona Frau armchairs or the B&B Italia seating with its innovative, iconic design. For complete relaxation, it is possible to use the shower area, decorated with Bisazza mosaic, and offering a special kit of a towel and accessories.
At the same time, the Hangar Lounge is the ideal place for those who need to be connected at all times. An exclusive wi-fi network and a working area with isolated workstations equipped with USB outlets and charging stations will enable guests to work in undisturbed comfort. A VIP conference room, fully furnished by LEMA is also available for meetings in total privacy. For a complete experience, finally, all customers have guaranteed access to a vast digital newsstand with the latest news.
The new Spring menu created by starred chef Gian Piero Vivalda of Antica Corona Reale was presented in the Hangar Lounge and will be served on ITA Airways intercontinental flights. The new menu celebrates Spring and pays tribute to Italian cuisine, combining tradition and innovation to delight passengers with modern flavors while at the same time making them feel at home. Gian Piero Vivalda will welcome the clientele of ITA Airways with aromas and flavors inspired by the country’s excellence, in a simple yet elegant style using recipes based on familiar ingredients and lighter offerings in all classes of travel, from economy to business.
For the intercontinental flights out of Italy, multi-starred Chef Gian Piero Vivalda has created 4 original dishes for ITA Airways that are nothing less than manifestos of his intended plan for a rich, spring menu that is both evocative and traditional:
- “Sfogliatelle of zucchini and smoked salmon with an orange sauce”,
- “Ravioli stuffed with Bra sausage on a cream of green asparagus and salad greens flavored with mint”,
- “Chicken tenders with lemon and basil on baby spinach, Italian style”,
- “Yogurt Bavarese with strawberries and Bronte pistachio sauce”.
It is a menu designed to provide a complete culinary experience, based on meticulous study of the quality and seasonal perfection of the raw material, with particular attention to the combinations of flavors, aromas, and colors. These recipes will enrich and enhance the entire Business menu, which will also include other dishes that passengers can choose, with the certainty that they will love the fine Italian cuisine.
The opening of the new Hangar Lounge was celebrated with the prestigious bubbles of Ferrari Trento, protagonist of an excellent Italian toast.
It is also possible to purchase access to the Lounge via the website ita-airways.com, or directly at the airport when customers are in possession of an ITA Airways ticket.
The Lounge is open every day of the week from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
The ITA Airways Hangar Lounge is the fourth lounge to be inaugurated by the flagship airline after “Piazza di Spagna” and “Piazza Venezia” at Rome-Fiumicino and “Piazza della Scala” at Milan-Linate. More than a place to relax while waiting for the departure of a flight, it offers full enjoyment of the values and distinctive elements of Italian excellence in the world.
Partners who contributed to the realization of the Hangar Lounge
CAMPARI «an open-sky cocktail»
At the Hangar Lounge, the clientele can enjoy cocktails created by the Campari Group, including the iconic Campari Negroni, served with distinctive ITA Airways style. With its elegant, tapered design, about 30 meters long in a linear development that characterizes the central space, the bar of the Hangar Lounge is an attractive example of Italian style, inviting the passengers to enjoy that moment of relaxation in the most satisfying manner.
1895 COFFEE DESIGNERS BY LAVAZZA «coffee in the clouds»
At the coffee shop of the Hangar Lounge, passengers will be able to enjoy the Special Coffee Ritual of 1895 Coffee Designers by Lavazza: a flavorful experience perfect for a relaxing moment enjoying luxurious hospitality exclusively "Made in Italy". With the Special Coffee Ritual of 1895, the excellence of the collection of Specialty Coffees is prepared using different methods of extraction that make it ideal any time of day, at breakfast or after lunch, for a refreshing late afternoon break or before dinner. In addition to the universally popular Espresso, the beverage synonymous with Italy everywhere, guests can try coffee made in the Moka, Chemex, enjoyed by filtered coffee-lovers, and Cold Brew: fresh and light.
LEMA: «In addition to the lounge, this is my VIP Room»
To meet the demands of an exclusive clientele, LEMA has furnished a living-lounge for those who require more than a simple break in their day, with an environment where elegance, warmth and conviviality play a leading role. It is a space where every detail has been carefully thought out, designed to satisfy the needs of those who travel for work or pleasure, and offer clients from all over the world true comfort Made in Italy.
Poltrona FRAU: «a dream of flight» Italian style relaxation
The pleasure of the trip begins as soon as customers enter the ITA Airways Hangar Lounge: they sink into the deep Frau leather armchairs in dark blue. They recreate a “premium class” setting and, with the table and porthole-shaped lamp, convey the pleasure of flying in full comfort and privacy.
B&B Italia
The Metropolitan armchairs by B&B Italia and Caratos by Maxalto, in the Hangar lounge, are distinguished for their unique style and elegance, introducing the passenger to the ideal mood for a vacation or even just a short break.
BISAZZA: «the sky is really in the room»
Bisazza recreates the splendor of the sky with its precious mosaic collection, exalting every detail of a voyage among the clouds.
Tags: Walter De Silva, Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino, Airbus A320neo, Fabio Lazzerini, ITA Airways, Daniela Santanchè, Maria Tripodi, Federico Freni
