Itapemirim secures 10 A320s for March 2021 launch

Brazil's Itapemirim has selected the A320 as the sole aircraft type for its planned domestic airline, ITA Transportes Aéreos. ITA will launch in 2021, according to CEO, Tiago Senna, who signed a letter of intent with lessors to secure the initial batch of ten aircraft.

The A320s, currently based in Europe and India, will be painted yellow and brought to Brazil for operations out of the major airports of São Paulo's Guarulhos, Rio de Janeiro's Galeão and Brasília.

By 2022, ITA plans to grow the fleet to 50 A320s, but no deals for the 40 additional aircraft have been disclosed yet.

ITA, which is backed by US$500 million from UAE-based investors, plans to begin hiring 600 employees soon, including 170 pilots and 300 flight attendants.

The parent company, Itapemirim, is currently undergoing judicial reorganization, but it is not expected to have any impact on the launch.