ITA Airways is preparing to put its initial Airbus A350-900 into service on its network of American and Asian routes this summer. The first of the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-powered twinjets has been undergoing preparatory test flights at Toulouse before entering operation. ITA states that the aircraft will join its fleet in June. The A350 will be used to operate intercontinental routes on the airline’s network from Rome Fiumicino, which will include Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Los Angeles and Tokyo. “Arrival of the flagship aircraft will enable the company to offer modern, environment-friendly aircraft featuring cutting-edge technology,” says the carrier. It says it will provide an “important step” towards sustainable operations and support the airline’s environmental targets.<br/>
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Etihad Airways said a surge in premium-seat sales is being overwhelmingly led by huge pent-up demand for long-haul holidays and journeys to see friends and family following two years of coronavirus curbs. Around 90% of business-class bookings with the Gulf carrier are coming from people making leisure trips, up from about 45% before the pandemic struck, CEO Tony Douglas said Friday. He referred to the phenomenon as “revenge tourism.”<br/>