ITA Airways deploys SITA OptiFlight fleet-wide to cut fuel and CO₂

7,100 tonnes fuel, 22,100 tonnes CO₂

ITA Airways is equipping its entire fleet with SITA OptiFlight, an artificial intelligence-based climb profile optimisation tool. The carrier says savings are already being realised and is targeting more than 7,100 tonnes of fuel and over 22,100 tonnes of CO₂ across 2025 and 2026. The Italian airline, which has been 59% owned by the state and 41% by Deutsche Lufthansa AG since January 2025, aims to accelerate its energy-efficiency measures.

SITA OptiFlight calculates the most efficient climb profile for each flight by adjusting airspeed, acceleration phases, altitude transitions and climb Mach. The tool draws on predictive analytics, machine learning and weather data to refine its recommendations. It uses tail‑specific modelling for each airframe so guidance is adapted to the aircraft’s characteristics and to operational and meteorological conditions. The stated aim is to convert these optimisations into measurable savings without affecting safety or schedule reliability.

The urgent challenge of cutting emissions

For ITA Airways, the priority is to shrink its carbon footprint while addressing the cost burden of jet fuel. The company frames the roll-out as a milestone in its roadmap, where data and AI are expected to deliver rapid, concrete and measurable gains. “Data‑driven insights and artificial intelligence allow us to achieve significant fuel‑saving and emissions reductions without compromising efficiency or safety,” said Francesco Presicce, Chief Innovation and Strategic Projects/Vision at ITA Airways. “This initiative is part of our broader commitment to more sustainable and responsible aviation, and we are proud to be at the forefront of this journey”.

For SITA, this latest deployment — Air India announced in September 2025 that it would adopt OptiFlight — underlines how digital transformation supports sustainability goals by embedding decision‑support directly into flight operations. “The aviation industry faces the urgent challenge of reducing emissions while maintaining operational efficiency. ITA Airways’ decision to implement SITA OptiFlight® is a testament to how harnessing the power of data can have a measurable impact. By using real‑time data and predictive modeling, SITA OptiFlight® will allow ITA Airways to reduce fuel burn and emissions while maintaining optimal flight performance. This collaboration shows how digital transformation is fundamental to aviation sustainability,” said Yann Cabaret, CEO of SITA for Aircraft.