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ITA Airways Cargo (IATA: AZ) is the dedicated freight division of Italy's national airline, established in 2021 as the successor to Alitalia. With its hub at Rome Fiumicino, a fleet of Airbus A330 freighters, and a growing global network spanning Europe, the Americas and Asia, Goodhope Freight connects Chinese exporters to Italy and beyond.
Key facts about ITA Airways Cargo and its cargo proposition for shippers in China.
ITA Airways Cargo representation in mainland China and Hong Kong.
ITA Airways Cargo works with a network of General Sales Agents (GSAs) and interline partners to serve the China market.
Key China gateways: Shanghai (PVG), Hong Kong (HKG)
Aircraft: Wet-leased B777-200F freighters
Note: For cargo bookings from China, please contact Goodhope Freight for coordination with ITA Airways Cargo.
Cargo Reservations: +39 06 4567 4838
Email: cargores@ita-airways.com
Corporate Office: Via Venti Settembre 97, 00187 Rome, Italy
Website: www.ita-airways.com
Address: Via Alberto Nassetti 2, Fiumicino, Latium 00054, Italy
Phone: +39 02 2499 2890
PEC: italiatrasportoaereo@legalmail.it
Hub: Rome Fiumicino (FCO) — Lufthansa Cargo's fifth European hub
ITA Airways Cargo operates a modern Airbus fleet with dedicated A330-200F freighters and belly-hold capacity on long-haul passenger aircraft.
| Aircraft | Type | In service | Max Payload | Typical routes | Cargo advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A330-200F | Dedicated freighter | 3 | 60 tonnes | Europe – North America, South America, Asia | Primary freighter; fuel-efficient; ideal for high-value and oversized cargo |
| Boeing 777-200F (wet-leased) | Dedicated freighter | Multiple | ~100 tonnes | Rome – Shanghai (PVG), Rome – Hong Kong (HKG) | Asian routes; high-capacity long-haul freighter |
| Airbus A350-900 | Wide-body passenger (belly cargo) | Multiple | [To be confirmed] | Rome – New York, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Delhi | Modern fuel-efficient long-haul; premium belly capacity |
| Airbus A330-900neo | Wide-body passenger (belly cargo) | Multiple | [To be confirmed] | Rome – São Paulo, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro | South America routes; high-value fashion cargo |
| Airbus A320neo / A320 / A319 | Narrow-body passenger (belly cargo) | 77 | [To be confirmed] | Domestic Italy, European feeder network | Regional connectivity; feeder services to FCO and MXP hubs |
* ITA Airways Cargo's total weekly capacity is approximately 1,500 tonnes. The airline operates three A330-200F freighters with 60-tonne payload capacity, complemented by belly space in passenger aircraft. Wet-leased B777-200F capacity serves Asian routes including Shanghai and Hong Kong.
ITA Airways Cargo's services connecting China with Italy and Europe.
| Route | Aircraft | Frequency | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rome (FCO) ↔ Shanghai (PVG) | Boeing 777-200F (wet-leased) | Regular freighter service | Active |
| Rome (FCO) ↔ Hong Kong (HKG) | Boeing 777-200F (wet-leased) | Regular freighter service | Active |
| Rome (FCO) ↔ Buenos Aires (EZE) / São Paulo (GRU) / Rio de Janeiro (GIG) | B777F / A330 | Up to 30 weekly connections | Active — Lufthansa Cargo AWB |
| Rome (FCO) ↔ Bangkok (BKK) / New Delhi (DEL) / Tokyo Haneda (HND) | B777F | Up to 21 weekly connections | Active |
| Rome (FCO) ↔ North Africa & Middle East (ALG, CAI, ACC, DSS, TUN, DXB, RUH) | B777F / A330 | Up to 71 weekly connections | Active |
For China-origin cargo, the recommended routing is Shanghai (PVG) or Hong Kong (HKG) → Rome (FCO) on ITA Airways Cargo B777F → onward connections to Europe, North America or South America. Please consult your local agent for the latest schedule and confirmed frequencies.
Destinations reachable from China through the ITA Airways Cargo network (via Rome Fiumicino hub).
ITA Airways Cargo's network spans Europe, North America, South America, Asia and Africa, with Rome Fiumicino (FCO) as its primary hub and Milan Malpensa (MXP) as a secondary hub. The airline serves over 70 destinations worldwide. Key destinations reachable from China include:
Recommended China routing: Shanghai (PVG) / Hong Kong (HKG) → Rome (FCO) on ITA Airways Cargo B777F → final destination (Europe, Americas, Africa or Middle East). Exact routing, carriers and transit points are per shipment — please consult your local agent for the latest schedule.
Why Chinese exporters choose ITA Airways Cargo for Italy, Europe and Americas-bound cargo.
For Chinese manufacturers, traders and e-commerce businesses, ITA Airways Cargo offers a uniquely positioned air freight solution with four distinct advantages.
Direct China–Italy freighter connectivity via Shanghai and Hong Kong. ITA Airways Cargo operates wet-leased Boeing 777-200F freighter services connecting Rome Fiumicino with Shanghai (PVG) and Hong Kong (HKG). These services provide direct all-cargo connectivity between China's major manufacturing hubs and Italy's capital, with the B777F offering approximately 100 tonnes of payload capacity per flight. Following Lufthansa Group's acquisition of a 41% stake in ITA Airways (increased to 90% in 2026), Rome Fiumicino has become Lufthansa Cargo's fifth European hub alongside Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna and Brussels, further strengthening the strategic importance of this route for China–Europe trade.
Rome FCO as a strategic Southern European gateway. Rome Fiumicino Airport serves as ITA Airways Cargo's primary hub and a natural transshipment point for cargo moving between East and West. From Rome, Chinese cargo can connect seamlessly to 70+ destinations across Europe, North America, South America, Africa and the Middle East. The airline's network includes up to 30 weekly cargo connections to South America (Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro), up to 21 weekly connections to Asia (Bangkok, New Delhi, Tokyo Haneda), and up to 71 weekly connections to North Africa and the Middle East (Algiers, Cairo, Accra, Dakar, Tunis, Dubai, Riyadh). This extensive connectivity makes Rome an ideal gateway for Chinese exporters targeting multiple global markets.
Specialised cargo capabilities including CEIV Pharma certification and luxury fashion expertise. ITA Airways is IATA CEIV Pharma certified, reflecting its compliance with the highest international standards for pharmaceutical logistics. The certification covers the airline's ground handling operations at Rome FCO, including the loading and unloading of medicines and vaccines from aircraft. Beyond pharmaceuticals, ITA Airways Cargo has developed particular expertise in high-value fashion cargo, with an 82% load factor on Europe–North America routes driven by luxury fashion transport. The airline offers specialised handling for high-value fashion items with ±0.5°C/±2%RH environmental control, and accepts oversized cargo up to 7m×3.2m×2.8m with 72-hour advance notice.
Digital booking and forwarder partnership ecosystem. ITA Airways Cargo has rapidly expanded its digital distribution, partnering with WebCargo (real-time eBooking for forwarders in 19 countries), CargoAi/CargoMART (11 countries including Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland, Argentina, Brazil and the US), Unisys Cargo Portal Services (11+ countries), and Freightos. The airline's proprietary ITA Cargo Portal offers real-time booking with API integration (response time <0.3s), automated e-AWB generation, and end-to-end tracking across 20 checkpoints. For Chinese freight forwarders and exporters, this digital infrastructure provides efficient, transparent access to ITA Airways Cargo's capacity.
Goodhope Freight consolidates and negotiates on the China side, so exporters benefit from consolidated rates, predictable departures and local Chinese-language support. We work with ITA Airways Cargo to confirm space on the best available routing for your Italy and Europe-bound shipments.
How to book ITA Airways Cargo space from mainland China through Goodhope Freight.
How ITA Airways Cargo's Rome Fiumicino hub and specialised services create value for freight from China.
ITA Airways Cargo is built around a dual-hub strategy: Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) as the primary hub and Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) as the secondary hub. Rome FCO, with 820 weekly flights to 55 destinations, serves as the airline's intercontinental gateway, while Milan MXP covers Italy's northern industrial and fashion markets. Following Lufthansa Group's acquisition of a 41% stake in ITA Airways (increased to 90% in 2026), Rome Fiumicino has become Lufthansa Cargo's fifth European hub alongside Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna and Brussels — a development that significantly enhances the strategic importance of ITA's cargo network.
Modern, fuel-efficient Airbus fleet. ITA Airways operates a fleet of 99 aircraft with an average age of 5.8 years, including 22 long-haul Airbus jets (A350-900, A330-900neo, A330-200) and 77 narrow-body aircraft (A320neo, A320, A319). The dedicated cargo fleet includes three A330-200F freighters with 60-tonne payload capacity each, complemented by belly-hold capacity on passenger aircraft. Wet-leased B777-200F aircraft provide high-capacity freighter service on Asian routes including Shanghai and Hong Kong, with approximately 100 tonnes of payload per flight.
IATA CEIV Pharma certification and specialised cargo handling. ITA Airways Cargo is IATA CEIV Pharma certified, confirming compliance with the highest international standards for pharmaceutical logistics, including the transport of medicines and vaccines. The certification covers ground handling at Rome FCO, one of Italy's largest cargo airports. The airline maintains a five-tier approval system for specialised shipments, including dangerous goods (UN38.3 certification required for lithium batteries), high-value fashion items (±0.5°C/±2%RH environmental control), and oversized cargo (maximum dimensions 7m×3.2m×2.8m with 72-hour advance notice). With a 99.3% dangerous goods compliance rate, ITA Airways ranks among Europe's safest cargo carriers.
Luxury fashion and high-value cargo expertise. ITA Airways Cargo has developed particular expertise in transporting luxury fashion and high-value goods, achieving an 82% load factor on Europe–North America routes driven by luxury fashion transport. This capability is particularly relevant for Italian fashion houses and for Chinese exporters of premium goods targeting the European market. The airline's digital platform supports end-to-end electronic air waybill (e-AWB) management, and the ITA Cargo Portal provides real-time booking with API integration, automated e-AWB generation, and end-to-end shipment tracking across 20 checkpoints.
Digital distribution and forwarder partnerships. ITA Airways Cargo has rapidly expanded its digital distribution channels, partnering with WebCargo (real-time eBooking for forwarders in 19 countries including Italy, Belgium, Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland, US, Netherlands), CargoAi/CargoMART (11 countries including Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, France, UK, Germany, Switzerland, Argentina, Brazil, US), Unisys Cargo Portal Services (11+ countries in Europe, South America and US), and Freightos. The airline also offers direct data connection via CargoWise and has launched cooperation with cargo.one for global digital sales. This comprehensive digital infrastructure ensures Chinese freight forwarders can access ITA Airways Cargo capacity efficiently through their preferred booking platforms.
With a modern Airbus fleet, CEIV Pharma certification, luxury fashion expertise, and a growing digital distribution network, ITA Airways Cargo is a reliable, specialised partner for Chinese exporters targeting Italy, Europe and the Americas.