The new connection between Rome and the capital of Ghana is the first step in an ever-increasing presence in Africa
The first direct Ita Airways flight to Accra, the Company’s first destination in sub-Saharan Africa, has just taken off from Leonardo Da Vinci airport in Fiumicino. The new connection between Rome and the capital of Ghana is the first step in a presence that will be increasingly greater in West Africa, an important destination both for leisure traffic flows, but also of importance for corporate traffic. The connection to Accra will be followed by the inauguration of new flights from Rome Fiumicino to Dakar in July, and in August in the Middle East from Rome Fiumicino to Jeddah. Rome-Accra will have three weekly frequencies this month, which will become four from July with departure from Rome Fiumicino at 3.30pm and arrival in Ghana at 7.15pm (local time). Accra-Rome will also have 3 weekly frequencies which will become 4 from July with departure from Accra’s Kotoka airport at 11.45pm (local time), and arrival in Rome Fiumicino at 7.35am the following morning. Flights to Accra will be operated with the new, next-generation and technologically advanced Airbus A321neo.
The A321neo is the largest aircraft in the Airbus A320neo family and offers world-class range and performance. Efficient and silent, the new A321neo boasts 20 percent lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions per seat. This is the first narrow body aircraft configured with three separate cabins: Business Class (12 seats), Premium Economy (12 seats) and Economy (141 seats of which 12 dedicated to Comfort Economy). The cabin interiors, entirely designed by Walter de Silva, perfectly embody typically Italian elegance and style. In the current Summer season Ita Airways will operate 57 destinations, of which 16 national, 26 international and 15 intercontinental and will also fly to 12 further seasonal destinations, selected from the most popular Mediterranean tourism destinations, including Greece, Spain, Croatia and the Italian islands, reachable with direct flights from Rome Fiumicino and Milan Linate. It is possible to purchase the new flights on Ita Airways sales channels, through the company’s official website, the Company’s Customer Center, travel agencies and airport ticket offices.
Present at the ribbon cutting ceremony at gate E12 of Terminal 3 of Leonardo da Vinci airport in Fiumicino were Pierfrancesco Carino, VP International Sales of Ita Airways, Ivan Bassato, chief aviation officer of Aeroporti di Roma, Merene Benyah, ambassador of Ghana to Italy, the councilor Mario Bartoli, head of the Office for the Countries of Central and West Africa of the general directorate for globalization and global issues of the Maeci, Ascenzo Forte, head of the institutional relations and communications department of Enac and Raffaello Biselli, councilor for Commerce and markets, production and suap activities of the Municipality of Fiumicino. “For us it is a great honor to launch this flight to Accra, the capital of Ghana, a very important country and city on the African continent – said Ivan Bassato -. Rome Fiumicino with this flight is increasingly confirmed thanks to the support of Ita Airways, the Italian hub. One of the largest European hubs in continuous growth and development serving the economies of the countries and companies that are connected. Air transport is increasingly a way to keep communities together as a world becomes increasingly global. As a representative of Adr I underline the enormous importance that the relationship with our institutions has for us. I welcome the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Italian system is united and does its job with great speed and efficiency at the service of the country”.
“Welcome also to the councilor of the Municipality of Fiumicino – – stated Bassato-. There is an Italian system and a Fiumicino system at work to provide an increasingly better airport and local experience. I also thank the Ghanaian ambassador to Italy, we are proud to have her here. For us it is a source of pride to be the first airport in Italy connected to Accra and Ghana. It is an honor to strengthen ties with West Africa. Last year we had 1.5 million passengers to and from the African continent. This year we are growing by 37 percent in flows compared to Africa. Africa has great development potential. And Fiumicino is the airport that connects Africa better than any other in Europe. We are not particularly optimistic but realistic in saying that this is a first strategic route hopefully in that part of the world and others will follow. I thank Enac and Ita Airways, we are part of the same excellence that Italy represents in the world”, he concluded.
“It is a pride to start this flight – were the words of the vice president of International Sales of Ita Airways, Pierfrancesco Carino -. It is the first time that Ita Airways connects West Africa. We are starting this month with 3 flights a week. We will connect Rome with Accra, and from next month there will be 4 flights a week, so we are already investing in the development of Italy’s connection to West Africa. The role of the Fiumicino hub is fundamental as for us it is synonymous with connectivity. Not only will we connect Rome and Italy to Ghana but all the destinations of Ita Airways, which at the moment are 57 concentrated on the domestic territory, 16, 26 internationally, in particular on the Mediterranean and in Europe. And 15 at an intercontinental level, West Africa, North America, South America and Asia. On this flight we expect, and are already partly seeing, significant flows of bookings from North America and all of Europe. We are happy to contribute to the development of traffic not only for tourism but also for business. Our goal is to be ambassadors of Italianness, of Made in Italy with our points of reference. The first is the aircraft used for this route, a new generation 321, with a great focus on sustainability. With 20 percent less carbon emissions and 20 percent less fuel consumption. The service on board is distributed in three classes with business 12 seats, premium economy 12 seats and 141 economy seats, for a total of 165 seats”, he concluded.
“Africa is at the center of Italy’s international agenda, it has been even more so in the last year – underlined councilor Mario Bartoli, head of the Office for Central and West African Countries of the General Directorate for globalization and Global Issues of Maeci -. It is a reaffirmation of our political investment in Africa, which arises from Italy’s awareness and ambition to be a bridge for Europe and the rest of the world towards Africa. A bridge that must be built and consolidated and which is based above all on dialogue and connection. These are the inspiring principles of the Mattei Plan which is much talked about and which was inaugurated on the occasion of the Italy-Africa summit at the end of January, whose philosophy arises from the need to relaunch dialogue. A dialogue which, however, needs transmission belts and carriers. This carrier connects us with a stable democracy, a country that has enormous potential for economic growth which I am sure the flight will contribute to developing in the relations between Italy and Ghana. I hope that this route will contribute to increasing tourist flows, relations between our populations and investments and business between the two countries”, he concluded.
“Ita Airways has brought a dream to reality – said the Ghanaian ambassador to Italy, Merene Benyah -. I congratulate the company on behalf of the government and people of Ghana for its achievements. I am nostalgic for the successful service of the route operated by Ghana Airways and Alitalia. I hope that Ita Airways will be even more successful. The restoration of the service would not have been possible without the support of the Italian and Ghanaian governments who worked together to deepen relations between the two countries. This is a testament to the support of the two countries and the support of the Government of Ghana in creating a conciliatory business environment in the country. We know that direct services will enhance economic ties between the two countries. Ghana is a gateway to Africa, due to its geographical location, its democratic credentials and its commitment to the rule of law. So this is an important step for Ita Airways, because it opens its flights to 1.3 billion Africans,” she concluded.
