ITA Airways is the national airline of the Italian Republic, formed in 2020 and launched on 15 October 2021, taking over Alitalia's network, slots and most of its crew resources. Rome Fiumicino (FCO) is the main hub and Milan Malpensa (MXP) the secondary hub; the airline serves Shanghai Pudong, Hong Kong, Delhi, Tokyo Haneda and Bangkok. What matters for Chinese shippers is the belly cargo corridor to China, the capacity structure and how bookings are handled.
ITA Airways was set up by the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance as sole shareholder, taking over Alitalia's traffic rights, slots and ground resources at the Rome and Milan hubs. From the start it flew widebodies on long-haul Asia-Europe routes, and China is one of the few Asian markets with both business passenger demand and high-end e-commerce export demand. In the current season ITA Airways operates a direct Rome Fiumicino to Shanghai Pudong passenger service in mainland China, with cabin baggage and belly hold open to forwarders holding AZ cargo sales authority; Hong Kong is served by a direct Rome Fiumicino to Hong Kong International flight, complementing the historic Cathay and Dragonair network.
Italy is one of China's main trading partners in the EU, with machinery, fashion apparel, leather goods, household products, wine, mother and baby products and medical devices moving steadily both ways. The Rome hub connects the Mediterranean and southern Europe, while Shanghai and Hong Kong cover the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta export manufacturing belts, so a two-gateway, one-hub structure has direct value for Chinese shippers who need fast access to southern European markets. From 1 September 2025 Lufthansa Cargo has included ITA Airways belly capacity from Delhi, Tokyo Haneda and Bangkok to Rome in its AWB prefix sales system, which puts capacity sales, booking and flight tracking for the Asia-Rome direction into one channel and gives Chinese shippers clearer lines of responsibility for connections at Rome.
After launching on 15 October 2021, ITA Airways progressively moved Alitalia's long-haul network onto the new brand's fleet. The China points sit at the southern end of the Asian network, alongside Tokyo Haneda, Delhi, Mumbai and Bangkok. For Chinese shippers this means the Rome hub can receive belly cargo from Shanghai, Hong Kong, Delhi, Bangkok and Tokyo at the same time, and the cargo terminal and customs bonded facility at Rome Fiumicino handle a wide range of commodities, which supports same-day connections for time-critical cargo such as cross-border e-commerce direct mail, small fashion items and precision instrument samples.
In terms of trade flows, Chinese exports to Italy start from the Yangtze and Pearl River Delta manufacturing belts and are concentrated in textiles and apparel, footwear, bags, household goods, lighting, auto parts and consumer electronics; Italian exports to China are mainly high-end fashion, leather goods, wine, olive oil, goods from the Champagne region, industrial machinery and designer furniture. The two-way belly network means the same sector can carry suitable cargo in both directions, so shippers can plan capacity around the rhythm of trade in each direction and avoid loading one way only.
The sector is flown by widebody passenger aircraft; the distance is long, the belly volume available is large, and it is one of the main corridors for exports from the Yangtze River Delta to Italy and southern Europe. Cargo is screened, accepted and loaded at Shanghai Pudong International, flies direct to Rome Fiumicino, and is unloaded, stored in the customs bonded facility and collected by ITA Airways ground agents or its cargo partners. For time-critical cargo that must arrive within 24 to 36 hours, such as new-season fashion apparel, cross-border e-commerce direct mail and precision instrument samples, the direct corridor gives time certainty.
The Rome-Shanghai Pudong service operates to a seasonal schedule that changes between the winter and summer timetables. Once the forwarder confirms the season's schedule, aircraft type and available capacity at booking, shippers can plan tender within a 24 to 72 hour window. The advantage of the direct corridor is that it does not stop at a Middle East or Nordic hub, so cargo avoids a second handling and screening cycle and the risk of packaging damage and transit delay falls noticeably. For new-season apparel, seasonal consumer electronics launches and cross-border e-commerce peak stock, that direct-flight time certainty is the core value.
Hong Kong International is the traditional gateway for China's outbound air cargo, and the Rome-Hong Kong route links Pearl River Delta exports directly to the ITA Airways European network. The Hong Kong sector is mainly passenger belly capacity; Pearl River Delta shippers can palletise, declare and tender through Hong Kong airport air freight forwarders, and on arrival in Rome the cargo connects to Italian domestic sorting and southern European road transport. No public information shows ITA Airways operating all-cargo aircraft independently at Asian points outside mainland China; capacity on those Asian sectors is offered as belly space and code-share.
The Rome-Hong Kong corridor better suits high-value small shipments from the Pearl River Delta manufacturing belt. Hong Kong International is consistently one of the busiest international cargo airports in the world, with dense cargo terminals, express integrator transit centres and customs bonded facilities, and Pearl River Delta shippers can complete palletising and tender within the same day after road transport to the airport. The Rome-Hong Kong sector plugs Pearl River Delta supply directly into the Italian main hub and complements the Shanghai corridor, so shippers can choose the departure point that best fits their location.
| Item | Rome-Shanghai | Rome-Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Departure airport | Shanghai Pudong PVG | Hong Kong HKG |
| Arrival hub | Rome Fiumicino FCO | Rome Fiumicino FCO |
| Capacity format | Widebody passenger belly capacity | Widebody passenger belly capacity |
| Typical transit time | Nonstop in about 12–13 hours | Nonstop in about 12–13 hours |
| Main cargo sources | Fashion apparel, e-commerce parcels, precision samples | Electronic components, small high-value items |
| Sales channel | AZ forwarder / LH Cargo interline | AZ forwarder / LH Cargo interline |
| Freighter | No public information available | No public information available |
The long-haul fleet is led by the Airbus A350-900, with A320neo and A321neo for short and medium haul. On the China routes the widebody has separate forward and aft lower-deck holds that take AKE and AKH standard containers; narrowbodies on regional sectors are mainly bulk-loaded and serve Italian domestic, southern European and Mediterranean points.
The A350-900 is the main type on long sectors such as Rome-Shanghai and Rome-Hong Kong. Its hold is large and noise and vibration levels are low, which suits temperature-sensitive cargo, precision electronics and small high-value items. The forward and aft holds take both temperature-controlled containers and standard ULDs, and in winter and summer the airline can open live animal and chilled cargo zones depending on demand. Note that ITA Airways publishes no freighter schedule separate from its passenger plan: all capacity toward China is sold with passenger flights and is noticeably affected by passenger load factors in peak season.
Another feature of the A350-900 hold is that pressurisation and temperature control run with the cabin, so hold altitude and air flow match the passenger cabin, which suits pharmaceutical samples, biologics, high-end leather goods and precision optical instruments that are sensitive to pressure and temperature. New-season leather goods, eyewear and jewellery exported from the Yangtze River Delta have long used this belly space, and the hold stays stable in both winter and summer. For high-value cargo with pieces up to 150 kilograms and total volume within LD3 limits, a ULD position in the forward or aft hold is the first choice.
After arrival at Rome Fiumicino, cargo can connect on ITA Airways A321neo aircraft or code-share partners to Milan Linate, Venice, Naples, Barcelona, Paris Charles de Gaulle and other regional points. Narrowbody holds are mainly bulk space plus small LD3 containers with limited weight per sector, which suits B2B direct deliveries and consignments at sample level. Lufthansa Cargo's capacity sales system at the Rome hub covers both ITA Airways long-haul belly space and regional connecting capacity, giving Chinese shippers one AWB and one flight tracking record for the whole journey.
| Aircraft type | Role on the network | Capacity form |
|---|---|---|
| A350-900 | Rome-Shanghai, Rome-Hong Kong, long-haul Asia-Europe | AKE and AKH containers plus bulk |
| A330-200 (transition fleet) | Long-haul supplement | Containers plus bulk |
| A321neo | Rome-Milan, southern Europe regional | LD3 containers plus bulk |
| A320neo | Mediterranean short haul | Mainly bulk loaded |
| Freighter | No public information shows ITA Airways operating a freighter fleet | |
Schematic route network: Shanghai Pudong and Hong Kong are the main China departure points, Rome Fiumicino the Italian main hub, Milan Malpensa the secondary hub, and Venice, Bologna, Naples, Barcelona and Marseille the main southern European connection points. Actual flight times are subject to ITA Airways' seasonal timetable and capacity confirmation.
Belly space takes general textiles, footwear, leather goods, household products, industrial components, and finished and semi-finished consumer electronics. Small fashion items, jewellery and brand samples from the Yangtze and Pearl River deltas have long moved through this corridor, and it is best suited to high-value pieces under 45 kilograms that need to move in and out quickly. Cargo is loaded in containers or as bulk, and depalletised and distributed by the destination forwarder in Rome.
Fashion apparel is the traditional large commodity on the China-Italy corridor. New-season clothing, footwear, bags and accessories from Shanghai and Hong Kong usually move in a concentrated window six to eight weeks before the European and American brands' spring/summer and autumn/winter launches, in lots ranging from several hundred to several thousand pieces. Capacity on the direct Rome flights books up early ahead of launch seasons, so shippers need to secure space in advance. Cross-border e-commerce direct mail moves in small, frequent batches, usually under 5 kilograms per piece, and clears through Rome customs express lanes as courier traffic.
ITA Airways states on its public passenger pages that dogs, cats and other companion animals can travel in the cabin or in a pressurised, temperature-controlled hold, with booking through designated channels 48 hours in advance. The same policy applies to live animal transport for research, breeding stock and international pet relocation. Temperature-sensitive cargo such as pharmaceutical samples, biologics, wine samples, chocolate and perishables must be declared at booking, and ITA Airways ground agents allocate it to a temperature-controlled position. Dangerous goods are assessed under the IATA DGR rules; no public information shows ITA Airways routinely accepting strongly restricted categories such as lithium batteries, dry ice or radioactive material on the China routes.
| Cargo categories | Suitability | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fashion apparel, footwear, leather goods | Recommended | Light, high value, time sensitive |
| Cross-border e-commerce direct mail | Recommended | Small pieces, fast customs |
| Precision instruments, finished electronics | Accepted | Requires shock-proof packing |
| Live animals (dogs, cats) | Accepted | Apply 48 hours ahead |
| Temperature-controlled pharmaceuticals, biological samples | Accepted | Declare temperature requirements at booking |
| Large machinery | Restricted | Limited by belly hold door dimensions |
| Strongly restricted dangerous goods | No public information available | Assessed shipment by shipment |
ITA Airways does not sell loose belly space directly to individual shippers in China. Chinese shippers book through a forwarder holding AZ sales authority, which handles the booking request, capacity lock, tender, export declaration, loading and collection at destination. Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited covers the China side of that process.
The shipper provides shipper, consignee and notify party details, commodity, pieces, gross weight, volume, piece dimensions, marks, HS code and the intended tender date. The forwarder locks capacity with ITA Airways or its Asian cargo marketing partner against the season's timetable and obtains the HAWB and the MAWB advance number. Capacity is tight in peak season, so submit the booking five to ten working days ahead; on long Asia-Europe sectors peak space is normally allocated in booking order and by the shipper's historical load factor.
Cargo suitability must be stated at the booking stage. Consumer electronics with batteries, liquid samples, magnetic components, live animals and temperature-controlled cargo must each be declared separately on the booking instruction; otherwise airport security or the cargo terminal may refuse or return the shipment. Shippers must also provide the English commodity name and the correct HS code, because Italian import clearance is sensitive to tariff classification and a wrong code can cause clearance delay and duty adjustment.
Shippers routing via Shanghai Pudong can deliver to the customs-supervised air cargo warehouse at Pudong Airport, or have the forwarder collect and palletise the cargo. Shippers routing via Hong Kong can deliver to an air freight warehouse at Hong Kong Airport for palletising, security screening and export declaration. On the Chinese side the export declaration, invoice, packing list and contract are required, plus the relevant licences for controlled goods. Before loading, cargo goes through airport security and terminal acceptance checks, and packing, marks and piece weight must meet ITA Airways belly loading requirements.
After arrival at Rome Fiumicino, the ITA Airways ground agent unloads the aircraft and moves cargo into the customs warehouse. Italian import clearance is handled by a destination broker under the Union Customs Code and requires an EORI number, an import declaration and VAT registration. Once cleared, cargo can be collected, trucked to Milan, Venice, Bologna or Naples, or handed to the Lufthansa Cargo network for onward transit to Germany and the Nordic countries. Public sources do not show ITA Airways running its own trucking network to Italian cities beyond Rome; final delivery is handled by local partner hauliers.
Italian import clearance typically takes one to three working days from arrival to declaration and release. If licences, sampling or a classification review are involved, it can stretch beyond five working days. Chinese shippers should confirm the Italian consignee's EORI and VAT status before departure so that missing credentials do not generate storage charges on arrival. The customs warehouse at Rome Fiumicino charges storage by the day, and cargo held beyond the free period incurs extra cost.
| Step | Responsible party in China | Key deliverable |
|---|---|---|
| Booking | Forwarder and shipper | Booking instruction, space confirmation |
| Pickup and palletising | Forwarder warehouse | Pallet list, weight ticket |
| Export customs declaration | Shipper / customs broker | Declaration, invoice, packing list |
| Security screening and acceptance | Airport cargo terminal | Acceptance receipt, loading sheet |
| Flight sector | ITA Airways | MAWB, flight tracking |
| Rome clearance | Italian customs broker | Import declaration, VAT |
| Last-mile delivery | Italian trucking company | Proof of delivery (POD) |
Capacity on long-haul Asia–Europe belly space is shaped by the passenger peak season, business travel, fashion launch seasons and cross-border e-commerce promotions all at once. When planning shipments, Chinese shippers should either move early in a loose window or pay a premium to lock space in a tight one.
June to August is the summer travel peak, when passenger load factors to Europe are high and available belly volume is squeezed by tickets. September to November adds the autumn and winter fashion launches and Christmas stocking, and long-haul Asia–Europe rates rise markedly. Four to six weeks before Chinese New Year, factories in the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta ship at once and space out of Shanghai and Hong Kong tightens. During Italy's August holiday shutdown, import clearance and final delivery slow down, so shippers should avoid bringing urgent cargo into that window.
March to May is the traditional low season on long-haul Asia–Europe sectors. Passenger load factors fall and belly rates are relatively friendly, which suits large consignments that are cost-sensitive rather than time-sensitive. Around the Christmas and New Year holidays from late December to January, Italian import clearance pauses and cargo has to wait in the customs warehouse for release, so shippers should time departures to avoid a cluster of arrivals just before the holidays.
| Alternative hubs | Connection method | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Milan Malpensa MXP | ITA narrowbody connections | Direct delivery to northern Italy's industrial belt |
| Paris CDG | Codeshare / LH network | Southern Europe re-routing |
| Frankfurt FRA | LH Cargo freighter | Bulk urgent space |
| Amsterdam AMS | Codeshare | Nordic distribution option |
| Dubai DXB | Connecting belly space | Southern Europe road haulage option |
ITA Airways serves Rome–Shanghai Pudong and Rome–Hong Kong with passenger belly space; public sources do not show it deploying scheduled freighters to China. Shippers who need bulk freighter capacity can connect at the Rome hub to the Lufthansa Cargo freighter network.
A Chinese shipper can submit the booking instruction, cargo details and handover time through a forwarder holding AZ cargo sales authority, and the forwarder locks space with ITA Airways or its Asian cargo sales partner. Public sources do not show ITA Airways offering a direct online booking channel for individual shippers in China.
Block time on the nonstop sector is about 12 to 13 hours. Adding ground handling, security screening and clearance at both ends, total transit is usually three to six working days, depending on the cargo type, whether temperature control is needed, whether an export licence is required and how fast destination clearance runs.
ITA Airways reviews dangerous goods under IATA DGR rules and normally accepts small quantities of lithium batteries that meet the exemptions. Severely restricted dangerous goods, dry ice and radioactive material need approval shipment by shipment, and public sources do not show the carrier routinely accepting them on China routes.
An EU importer needs an EORI number and VAT registration. On the Chinese export side, an invoice, packing list, contract and export declaration are required. Controlled goods such as cosmetics, medical devices and food need the corresponding EU market access approval.
Shippers should submit the booking instruction five to ten working days ahead and confirm alternative flights and hubs with the forwarder (Milan MXP, Paris CDG, Frankfurt FRA). The Asia–Rome capacity marketing cooperation between ITA Airways and Lufthansa Cargo allows one seamless re-routing at the Rome hub.
Once clearance is complete, collection or trucking can usually be arranged within one to two working days. If licences, sampling or a classification review are involved, it takes longer. The customs warehouse at Rome Fiumicino charges storage by the day, so shippers should confirm import credentials before departure.
From 1 September 2025, Lufthansa Cargo sells ITA Airways belly capacity from Delhi, Tokyo Haneda and Bangkok to Rome under its AWB prefix. When transiting the Rome hub, Chinese shippers can use the Lufthansa Cargo MAWB and flight tracking system directly, with clear responsibility boundaries and a simpler re-routing process.
Prepared by Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited to describe the ITA Airways (IATA: AZ, ICAO: ITY) belly cargo lane from China to Italy and how bookings are handled. Flight times, aircraft types and capacity structure are subject to ITA Airways' current seasonal notices and terminal acceptance confirmation. Official ITA Airways information is available at ita-airways.com.
Contact: Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited (Goodhope Freight). Our sales team handles booking, declaration, palletising and handover arrangements on the Chinese side. Trademark notice: ITA Airways, Alitalia, A350, A320, A321 and Lufthansa Cargo are trademarks of their respective owners and are used here for industry description only, implying no equity, agency or licensing relationship with those carriers.