ITA Airways Delayed or Cancelled? Claim EU261 Compensation Up to €600
ITA Airways (Italia Trasporto Aereo, IATA: AZ) is Italy's national carrier, launched in October 2021 as the successor to Alitalia. Operating from Rome Fiumicino (FCO) and Milan Linate (LIN), ITA Airways is a full EU airline — meaning EU Regulation 261/2004 applies on all routes, including long-haul transatlantic and Africa flights. A delay of 3+ hours entitles you to fixed cash compensation.
⏳ Italy: 2-year claim window — 2024 flights still claimable
Italian law (Article 2946 of the Codice Civile) provides a 2-year limitation period for EU261 claims departing from Italy. A disrupted ITA flight from Rome in July 2024 expires in July 2026. If your flight was disrupted in 2024 or later, act immediately.
ITA Airways ≠ Alitalia — but old Alitalia claims are separate
ITA Airways took over Alitalia's operations but is a legally distinct company. Claims against Alitalia (which ceased operations in October 2021) cannot be brought against ITA Airways. Only flights operated by ITA Airways (AZ flight numbers, post-October 2021) are claimable under EU261 through ITA. Alitalia creditors must pursue those claims through the Italian extraordinary administration process separately.
Am I eligible?
Compensation amounts
| Flight distance | Example ITA routes | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1,500 km | Rome–Milan, Rome–Palermo, Rome–Naples | €250 |
| 1,500–3,500 km | Rome–London, Rome–Paris, Rome–Cairo, Rome–Tunis | €400 |
| Over 3,500 km (4h+ delay) | Rome–New York (JFK), Rome–Washington, Rome–São Paulo, Rome–Tokyo | €600 |
How to claim ITA Airways EU261 compensation
- 1
File directly with ITA Airways
Submit your EU261 claim via ITA Airways's online complaint form. Include your booking reference (PNR), AZ flight number, scheduled and actual arrival times, and the number of passengers. ITA must respond within 30 days under Italian consumer law.
ITA Airways contact form → - 2
Escalate to ENAC if denied
ENAC (Ente Nazionale per l'Aviazione Civile) is Italy's civil aviation authority and the national enforcement body for EU261. File a complaint via ENAC's online portal if ITA rejects your claim or fails to respond within 30 days. ENAC can impose fines on airlines that refuse valid claims.
ENAC passenger rights → - 3
Use a no-win no-fee claims service
ITA Airways has a mixed track record on EU261 compliance. AirHelp handles Italian airline claims and takes ~25% only on success — useful if you want to avoid dealing with ENAC in Italian.
Check via AirHelp →
ITA Airways denial tactics to watch for
- →Confusing ITA Airways with Alitalia — ITA sometimes redirects claimants to Alitalia's extraordinary administration for pre-2021 flights; verify your flight was operated under an AZ code after October 2021
- →"Extraordinary circumstances" for Italian air traffic control strikes — while ATC strikes can be extraordinary, Italian ATC strikes are notoriously common and airlines cannot always invoke this defence
- →Volcanic disruption — eruptions of Etna or Stromboli can close Sicilian airports; these are genuine extraordinary circumstances, but mainland Italian delays cannot be attributed to volcanic activity
- →Offering ITA Volare miles instead of cash — EU261 entitles you to cash compensation only
- →Delays caused by airport slot restrictions — congestion at Rome Fiumicino (FCO) does not automatically constitute extraordinary circumstances
Find past ITA Airways delays in your inbox
SubRadar scans your Gmail or Outlook for ITA Airways booking confirmations and flags disrupted flights within Italy's 2-year window — so you can act before your claim expires.
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