When planning a trip to Europe, you will often come across ITA Airways for flights to Rome or Milan. However, looking at online reviews might reveal some concerning feedback, leaving many travelers hesitant to book. Since a flight is an essential part of your journey, avoiding any travel mishaps is a top priority.
Therefore, in this article, I will review my personal experience flying with ITA Airways, sharing detailed insights into the cabin atmosphere, in-flight meals, and checked baggage handling. Although I flew on a short-haul route from Malta to Rome, the core service quality and safety standards remain consistent with their long-haul flights.
If you are considering booking a flight with them, this guide will help you make an informed decision.
ITA Airways: Overview and Key Features
ITA Airways operates daily direct flights connecting major European cities, as well as non-stop routes between the United States and Italy. When weighing your transportation options for an Italian vacation, you will likely see their name come up more and more frequently. On the other hand, because it is still a relatively young airline, it might not feel as familiar as major US legacy carriers. As a result, many travelers naturally wonder what kind of airline they actually are, or if those rumors about delays and safety concerns are truly something to worry about.
Therefore, before diving into the live flight review, I have summarized the essential background information you should know. Let’s take a closer look at the history behind the founding of ITA Airways, their current route network, and their safety record.
Founding and History
ITA Airways (Italia Trasporto Aereo) is an airline that commenced operations in 2021 as Italy’s new flag carrier.
Born as the successor to the long-standing national carrier, Alitalia, it now operates a wide range of domestic and international flights as the country’s leading airline. Although it is a relatively young company, it inherits decades of aviation history and operational expertise from Alitalia, making it a strong choice for anyone traveling to Italy.
Furthermore, the airline has integrated into the Lufthansa Group and officially joined Star Alliance, the world’s largest airline network. This milestone enables seamless mileage accrual and smooth connections with fellow alliance members like United Airlines, significantly boosting convenience and peace of mind for US travelers.
Route Network
ITA Airways operates with Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO), the gateway to Italy, serving as its primary hub.
In addition to a robust domestic market, the airline offers an extensive network connecting major European destinations like Paris, London, Madrid, and Frankfurt, making it incredibly convenient to access various parts of Italy and neighboring countries. For travelers from the United States, they provide non-stop service from major hubs like New York (JFK), Miami, and Los Angeles directly to Rome. Being able to skip the hassle of a layover and head straight to Italy is a massive advantage.
On the other hand, when compared to massive Middle Eastern carriers like Emirates and Qatar Airways, or major US legacy airlines like United and Delta, the overall scale of their route network is relatively compact. Rather than covering every corner of the globe, it is easier to think of them as a specialized carrier whose main strength lies in connecting Italy with the rest of Europe.
While their network is more than adequate and highly convenient for standard Italian vacations or tours of major European cities, you might still need to connect to other partner flights if you are heading to a more niche, smaller destination.
Safety and Reliability
On the internet, you might occasionally spot negative rumors reflecting the old image of Alitalia, with people asking questions like “Is it safe to fly?” or “Will they go bankrupt soon?” However, while ITA Airways did succeed Alitalia, it was established as a completely separate legal entity. Therefore, it is perfectly safe to separate its current performance from the past reputation of its predecessor.
In fact, the airline features a modern fleet of aircraft that has been heavily refreshed since the Alitalia era. Since commencing operations in 2021, the carrier has never recorded a major hull-loss accident or flight fatality involving passengers or crew. Furthermore, beyond meeting the stringent safety regulations of the European Union (EU), the airline now shares the advanced operational and maintenance expertise of the major Lufthansa Group, providing a backbone of exceptionally high reliability.
During my own flight, the entire operation from takeoff to landing was completely smooth, and there was not a single moment that caused any anxiety. If you are using them for the first time, there is absolutely no need to worry excessively.
Flight Review: My Personal Experience Flying with ITA Airways
From here, I will review my personal experience flying with ITA Airways on my journey from Malta to Rome.
In the previous section, I focused primarily on objective features such as their route network and safety record. However, having actually flown with them myself, I discovered both the positives and a few disappointing areas, as well as crucial pointers that travelers should know in advance.
I will share the entire journey chronologically from pre-boarding to arrival from a real traveler’s perspective. I will be sharing my honest thoughts—including the drawbacks—so if you are considering this airline, this will give you a clear picture of what to expect.
Before Boarding
To map out my itinerary on the ground, I started tracking the flight status of this route online about a week prior to departure. To my surprise, the flight was delayed almost every single day, with some severe cases stretching up to three or four hours late.
Unsurprisingly, on the day of my flight, it was hit with roughly a one-hour delay. Many travelers arrange hotel airport shuttles or tightly scheduled sightseeing tours immediately upon arriving in Rome, but if you fly with ITA Airways, it is highly recommended to build a generous buffer into your itinerary. Since I couldn’t confidently predict my exact arrival time, I made the call to cancel my pre-booked shuttle service in advance.
As for the actual check-in process on the day of travel, including using the mobile app for online check-in, it was standard and no different from any other carrier. However, due to a oversight on my part, I ran into an unexpected mishap with my luggage.
When booking my ticket, I was drawn to the low fare and selected the “Economy Light” class, which turned out to be a massive blind spot. In exchange for the discounted price, this tier includes absolutely no free checked baggage allowance. Walking up to the counter completely unaware of this policy, I was slapped with an on-the-spot fee of 80 euros (approximately $85 USD). This unexpected, sudden expense was a painful hit to my travel budget.
Looking into it later, I realized that while legacy domestic options might handle this differently, these “baggage-free basic economy plans” are now a standard industry practice across European and major North American carriers. To make matters worse, paying for your bag at the airport counter on the day of departure is almost always significantly more expensive than just booking a standard Economy ticket from the start.
Especially when dealing with international airlines, I highly recommend not looking solely at the cheapest face-value price. Always double-check the booking screens to verify exactly what baggage allowances are included before you click purchase.
In-Flight Experience
Malta International Airport is a relatively compact facility. Because of this, instead of using a standard jet bridge, we walked directly across the tarmac from the terminal to the aircraft. As the ITA Airways plane came into view, its striking, deep blue livery left an immediate impression. While the vast majority of airlines opt for a clean white base, this distinctive coloring makes an ITA Airways jet instantly recognizable from a distance. It looked incredibly stylish, showcasing an unmistakable Italian sense of design.
Since this was a short-haul flight, the aircraft was a small narrow-body plane featuring a 3-2 seating configuration. The seat pitch felt a bit tight, and because my flight happened to be packed with larger passengers, the overall cabin experience felt quite cramped.
The seats were equipped with USB ports, so keeping my smartphone charged wasn’t an issue, but there were no individual seatback monitors installed. Since there was no access to standard in-flight entertainment (IFE) like movies or music, I had to rely on my own phone and tablet to pass the time during the flight.
Perhaps it was just a coincidence for this specific flight, but there was no boarding music playing as we entered the cabin. On many airlines, the music helps build a sense of travel excitement, but this flight maintained a very functional and business-like atmosphere. Since there were no screens, the cabin crew performed the safety demonstration manually, and the entire process leading up to takeoff proceeded in a very straightforward, no-nonsense manner.
However, one element of the cabin atmosphere that left a strong impression was the mood lighting. The ambient ceiling lights featured a vibrant blue base—ITA Airways’ corporate color—intertwined with golden accents. Despite the simple interior of the narrow-body aircraft, it created a distinctly sophisticated vibe, allowing me to feel that signature Italian design sensibility once again.
Since this was an evening flight, I was hoping the in-flight meal could serve as a substitute for dinner. However, to be completely honest, the onboard service was underwhelming. All that was provided was a complimentary beverage and a tiny package of snacks. While I wasn’t expecting a multi-course lavish meal on a short-haul route like this, the offerings definitely felt lacking for anyone hoping to satisfy their hunger.
Looking up other reviews later, I noticed several critical complaints regarding the small portions of ITA Airways’ catering, and based on this flight experience, I could completely see why they got that reputation. Especially if you are flying during standard meal times, it would be much wiser to eat at the airport beforehand or pack some light snacks with you.
On a positive note, the flight itself was highly comfortable, and without encountering any major turbulence, the aircraft maintained a stable cruise from takeoff to landing. Since it was an evening flight, a beautiful expanse of city lights spread out beneath the window as we approached Rome. Watching the endless trail of shimmering silver lights, a wave of excitement washed over me with the realization that I was finally arriving in Italy.
Before I knew it, we had touched down at Rome Fiumicino Airport. Although the flight time was short, it was more than enough to get a true feel for the overall experience and service style of ITA Airways.
Throughout the duration of this flight, I never felt a single moment of anxiety regarding safety. On the other hand, the elements that truly elevate a flight into a special travel experience—such as the in-flight dining options and entertainment—left a bit to be desired. While the airline is more than adequate if your primary goal is simply getting safely to your destination, those hoping to thoroughly enjoy the time spent in the air might want to manage their expectations ahead of time.
After Deplaning
Since this flight was from Malta to Rome, the entire journey took place within the Schengen Zone. As a result, there was no immigration or passport control to clear at Rome Fiumicino Airport, allowing me to head straight toward the baggage claim area right after stepping off the aircraft.
However, once I actually started walking, I was genuinely surprised by the sheer distance from the gate to the baggage claim. While I didn’t time it precisely, it felt like it took about 15 minutes of brisk walking just to get there. Along the way, I had to pass through a prominent security gate labeled “Exit,” which honestly made me a bit anxious, leaving me wondering if I had somehow missed the baggage carousels and walked too far ahead.
However, this is completely standard for Fiumicino Airport. The walking distance is simply incredibly long, so even if you start to feel a bit anxious, just trust the “Baggage Claim” overhead signs and keep moving forward.
After doing that much walking, I assumed that the bags would already be rolling on the belt, but once I finally reached the baggage claim area, I had to wait a significant amount of time for the luggage to actually appear. In my case, I waited at least 15 minutes at the carousel before the belt even started moving. Of course, once the luggage finally began to roll out, it took even more time for my own suitcase to show up.
As a result, it took nearly a full hour from the moment I stepped off the aircraft to finally walking out into the arrival lobby. If you are planning to catch a connecting train or have time-sensitive commitments upon arriving in Rome, I highly recommend building a very generous buffer into your schedule.
On a positive note, one incredibly convenient feature I noticed was that ticket vending machines for the Leonardo Express—the dedicated train heading straight to Rome’s city center (Termini Station)—were installed right inside the baggage claim area. Since you will inevitably have to spend time waiting for your luggage anyway, purchasing your train tickets during this downtime allows you to bypass the ticket lines in the lobby and head straight to the station for a seamless transfer. If you are planning to head straight into central Rome, making use of this waiting time is an excellent travel hack.
As for my checked baggage, everything handled smoothly without any specific issues. My suitcase returned to my hands safely, with zero signs of damage or lost baggage mishaps. While the waiting time for the luggage to appear on the carousel was admittedly long, there seems to be no major reason to worry about the actual handling and care of your belongings.
Verdict: Is ITA Airways Really That Bad? My Final Conclusion After Flying
After actually flying with ITA Airways, my genuine impression is that they are by no means as terrible as the “awful” negative rumors floating around online would suggest.
Of course, it wasn’t a flawless experience across the board. The portion sizes of the in-flight meals and the lack of robust entertainment options left a bit to be desired, and you definitely need to keep the inherent risk of delays in mind when it comes to on-time flight performance. On the flip side, the actual flight cruise itself was incredibly stable, and there was absolutely not a single moment where I felt any anxiety regarding their safety or operational standards.
My honest takeaway based on this live experience is that while I might not crown them as the “absolute best airline,” they absolutely remain a more than adequate and viable choice when traveling to Italy or around Europe. Especially for those routing through Rome to access various domestic Italian cities or neighboring European nations, they provide an immensely convenient option, particularly with their non-stop routes.
I truly hope this detailed review serves as a helpful reference for anyone currently weighing their options for an upcoming trip. Thank you so much for reading until the very end.
