Review of ITA Airways flight Milan → Catania in Economy

INTRODUCTION

Hello everyone!
While I write this report I'm attending my last year of my architecture course at university. 
The main architecture laboratory is focused on the redevelopment of an old industrial area near Siracusa, in Sicily. Since this project is gonna be our final work, the teacher organized a site inspection in Siracusa for 25-26th November.

I've never been to Sicily, even if it's an amazing region. Therefore this trip became the occasion to experience the island better.

BOOKING OPTIONS

Plane is the only way to get from Milan to Sicily in a quick way.
The fastest train can take up to 15 hours and at least one stopover. This is due to the fact that the Italian high speed network ends in Naples. South of it there are only conventional railways; moreover the train has to be shipped to cross the 3-km Strait of Messina, which separates Sicily from the mainland.

No need to say we didn't consider anytime this solution.

Catania Airport is the closest to Siracusa, being located 48 kilometers from our destination.
Our initial plan was to leave on Thursday 24th November, stay with our teacher in Siracusa on Friday and Saturday, than spending Sunday in Catania before the nine-o'clock flight back home.
By the way we discovered that leaving back on Monday was much more convenient (116 euros agains 152) even considering an additional night.
We decided to stay in Siracusa two nights, than spending one night in Taormina and then the last one in Catania, leaving back to Milan on Monday 28th evening.

After a bit of research the best option appeard to be flying with ITA Airways from Linate.
Actualy Ryanair from Malpensa was kinda cheaper, but we avoided it. First of all because the cabin baggage was not included; leaving from MXP would have meant taking the Malpensa Express train, which costs around 20 euros, and waking up around 5 am to catch the flight around 9 am.

We chose ITA Airways "Economy Light" fare, which gives the possibility to bring a standard trolley as a carry on, plus a small bag to put under the seat. We booked the flight the 28th October, less than one month before the departure date.

Since the meeting with the teacher was planned for the the day after our arrival, we deciced not the get the earlier flight (departing 9.50).
For the return we took the latest flight departing from Catania.

We booked also three hotels in Siracusa (two nights), Taormina and Catania (one night each) for a total of 114 euros per person.

Since public transport in Sicily is not very efficient a rented car was the only way to move around all these places. We chose SicilyByCar rental which offered us a Fiat Panda for 55 euros per person.

ROUTING

Some personal stats

First time flying into CTA

BEFORE THE FLIGHT

On the 9th November ITA Airways sent an email informing that the flight was postponed, from 10.50 to 11.00.
Nothing serious, fortunately…

ITA Airways gives the possibility to check-in 48 hourse before each flight. On Tuesday morning I logged in on their app to check-in and generate my boarding pass.

The procedure itself was very easy and quick. The app ask me to confirm my Volare frequent flyer number; by the way when I got my BP I noticed that the number was missing. Moreover, even hours after the check-in, the app continued to show the "Check-in" button as the procedure hadn't been done.

Even if the app had been improved since ITA's foundation one year before, there are still some issues to fix.

For the fare I chose the seat selection wasn't available. Fortunately I got a window seat, 24F, in the rear of the cabin.

Arriving at THE AIRPORT

With the flight scheduled to 11 my friend and I decided to be at Linate no later than 9.30, since none of us needed to check any luggage

Getting there from my house can take 45 minutes and two changes (subway, train and bus). By the way my friend, who lives close to my home, and I were able to find a shared car. From our place to the airport 15/20 minutes are needed.

We grabbed a car at quarter to nine and in 20 minutes we arrived at Milan-Linate Airport

Viale Forlanini, the entrance avenue to the airport

Milan skyline and the Alps seen from the parking.

The parking which hosts car sharing is connected to the terminal through a walkway
We got inside the terminal around 9:15, more than one hour before scheduled boarding time
Even if the terminal had been refurbished a couple of years ago, the departure hall is a bit dark

The boarding gate was already visible on the FIDS

Having a bit of spare time I went to ITA's counter to get my boarding pass printed
Moreover the online BP didn't show my frequent flyer number and I wanted to check it

Counters were empty and I got my BP in no time
The agent told me that the frequent flyer number was registered; unfortunately ITA's app and website still have some issues with frequent flyer log-in…

Having nothing else to do my mates and I proceeded straight to the security checkpoint

waiting to board

There was a bit of queue at the checkpoint
The control itself was quickly due to the advanced X-ray machinery which allows passengers to keep their liquids inside the bag
The whole procedure took 15 minutes

Mandatory passage through the duty free shop

The main departure lounge

Getting upstairs to get a coffee and take some pictures

ITA Airways A320s

Despite boarding was scheduled 30 minutes later we decided to wait at the gate

I want to take a moment to express something I feel really strange about Linate (both as an avgeek and as an architect)
The main departure lounge is located on the 1st floor. And on the same floor there're 5 contact gates. By the way to access the gate area there's a mandatory passage through the remote gates area, located on the ground floor. In my opinion this is kinda weird, also considering the airport had been improved recently

Our gate was already set for boarding

The apron with few European birds

A320s line up: British Airways and 3 ITA Airways, one in old livery

KLM Boeing 737 just landed…

…and docking at the gate

Hibernian Airlines Bombardier CRJ-1000 landing

This plane is wetleased by ITA Airways

ITA Airways A220, painted in "Born to be Sustainable" livery as the other 4 planes in the fleet

Our plane for today:
ITA Airways Airbus A320-200, EI-DTA, delivered to AirOne in December 2008 (14.0 years old). It was later transferred to Alitalia and now it's part of ITA's fleet. It's equipped with 171 seats in mixed C-Y configuration. The plane is dedicated to Italian football champion Gaetano Scirea.
I've already flown on EI-DTA on FCO-LIN route in December 2021.

Perfectly on time boarding was called at gate A19

Mandatory door shot
The blue paint looks sooo good

Heading to my seat, 24F
The plane seemed to have a 80% load factor

The view from my seat, with an Iberia A320 parked in front of the Emporio Armani hangar

Meanwhile boarding was going on
The seat was a standard european-haul one, with a decent pitch for a short flight

As boarding came to end an ITA Airways A320 pulled into the gate next to our

"Boarding completed" was called minutes before 11
A few minutes after we pushed back

ITA Airways, Aer Lingus and British Airways A320s

ITA Airways A220 and KLM Boeing 737 parked the terminal

Milan skyline with Alps is always a wonderful view

ITA Airways A320

Brussels Airlines A319 landing

German Airways Embraer E190 leased by ITA

Waiting for take-off on runway 36

ITA Airways A320 landing before our turn to go

Entering the runway bound to north
As I know most of the operations are north-bound

the flight

Almost 20 minutes after scheduled we started our take off run

And in the air…

The apron

Linate's terminal
The lake behind is called "Idroscalo" and was built in the 20s as a seaplane port

Mondadori (left) and IBM (right) headquarters in Segrate
The first one was designed by Brasilian architect Oscar Niemeyer

Banking over Segrate and Milano San Felice towns…

…and Pioltello

Milan with the Alps

Linate Airport as we pointed towards south

Passing over A58 motorway

The interchange between A1 and A58 motorways

Crossing over Po river, the longest in Italy

This S-bend is located west of Piacenza, on the border between Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna regions

Approaching Apennine Mountains

Piacenza-San Damiano Military Airport (ICAO: LIMS)

Apennines sprayed by a few snow

La Spezia gulf, in Liguria Region

Following Tuscany's coastline

Pisa, crossed by Arno River

Pisa "Galileo Galilei" Airport (IATA: PSA, ICAO: LIRP), Tuscany's main airport

Pisa city center, with the Leaning Tower and the Cathedral

Livorno visible in the distance

Piombino with Elba Island in the background

Monte Argentario

Rome-Fiumicino (IATA: FCO, ICAO: LIRF) visible between the clouds

30 minutes into the flight a drink service was delivered
I got an orange juice, which was quite good

Corporate picture

While the service was in progress we started to flight above Tyrrean Sea

The largest visible island is Ponza, the other two are Zannone and Palmarole

Eolie Islands, approaching Sicily's airspace

Cabin was prepared for landing and the crew informed that we'd arrived in 20 minutes
 
Northern Sicily seemed to be covered by clouds…

Etna, the tallest active volcano in Europe (3.357 metres)

Located a few kilometres north of Catania, it's one of the activest volcano in the world

Emerging under the light cloud layers

Aligning to the runway

Catania with Mount Etna in the background
Such a pity the summit is covered by clouds

Catania's harbour

Our shadow appears on the sea surface
I definitely got the best side to enjoy this landing

Catania's beach
The runway edge is located barely 600 metres from the shore

Last moments on air

At 12:35, ten minutes before scheduled, we touched down at Catania-Fontanarossa Airport
The airport is dedicated to opera composer Vincenzo Bellini

The landing was quite hard and the brake very strong

Even if the runway is equipped with a parallel taxiway, we had to backtrack to vacate

Docking at a contact gate minutes after
The captain welcomed us in Catania telling that the temperature was 23 °C, much more enjoyable than the 5°C in Milan

As I later discovered the western portion of the taxiway was undergoing renovation, obliging planes to backtrack the runway for landing or take off

Disembark was quite fast

Fuselage shot of our blue bird

Heading to the exit

Last view of our plane

Welcome to Catania!

The baggage hall

Since none of us had checked bags we get straight to the exit

My friends and me got off the terminal and went straight to the car rental center, located 4 minutes walking
After claiming our car (a Citroen C1) we pointed immediately to Siracusa
The motorway ride took around 45 minutes

See you for the return flight!

Bonus : Click here display hide

It was my first time in Sicily and I definitely fall in love with this Region
Not only I visited beautiful places, but I get in contact with a wonderful atmosphere and tasted very good dishes
Moreover I had a very pleasant time with my university mates
No doubts I'll visit again!

Ortigia Island, Siracusa's city center, seen from the boat tour

Santa Panagia cycling road, built on an abandoned rail track
It's close to our project site

Tonnara di Santa Panagia, a XVIII Century yard used to catch tuna

Oil tanks behind are unloading fuel at Augusta refinery

Siracusa's Cathedral

Taormina's Ancient Theatre, built in the 3rd Century BC

Sicily's coastline south of Taormina

Sicily's coastline north of Taormina, with Italy's mainland visible in the right background

Taormina seen from Castelmola, located 560 metres above the sea level

Aci Trezza sea stacks

Catania's Cathedral

Catania's Ancient Theatre

Monastery of San Nicolò l'Arena, Catania

And to finish, some Sicily's food masterpieces