I enjoyed my stay in the ITA Airways Hangar Lounge in Rome Fiumicino airport and then made my way to gate A48 to board the flight to Zurich. The process was a bit messy again and included a long wait just before going into the airbridge, which made me wonder why they bothered letting us board already. It was a fairly full flight in Economy, with 4 rows in Business class and 5 seats open. This time a pre take-off drink of juice and water was served, which I managed to knock all over the place!



Boarding my ITA Airways flight from Rome FCO to Zürich ZRH


Business class seating right at the front of the cabin on ITA Airways European flights


Looking down at Rome Fiumicino FCO airport just after take-off

The cabin manager was very welcoming but things went quickly downhill from there. Service was erratic, although meal trays were delivered to each of the Business class passengers. The hot dish consisted of the only meal that ITA has ever served me, a Pinsa that wouldn't pass muster in any city in Europe, not to mention Italy. The salad of rocket, apple slices and smoked salmon was ok, but not anything I would forcibly choose to eat. The chocolate cake was, as I expected, totally dry. But the drinks offer was a total joke: no white wine, no grappa, no red wine, no cognac. Was sort of airline is ITA? Even Economy class some 20 years ago had all those items, including a proper meal. I accepted the Prosecco in the absence of anything else, but I didn't really like it. The airlines in Europe are so crap it's beyond belief. At least we arrived at Zürich on time and it was a pleasant enough flight without any turbulence. There were some

Rating 6*
Aircraft 319
Seat 4C -4A
Registration EI-IMV

10.03.25



View of the Italian coast shortly after take-off from Rome FCO airport


Business class inflight catering, always the same thing, on ITA Airways European flights