EI-IKB – From Alitalia to the Blue of ITA Airways

Few aircraft represent the transition between two generations of Italian aviation as clearly as Airbus A320 EI-IKB.

Delivered to Alitalia in 2000, the aircraft spent more than two decades flying in the colours of Italy’s former national airline. When Alitalia ceased operations in 2021, EI-IKB was given another chapter: it became part of the original fleet of the newly created ITA Airways.

A new airline, a spectacular new blue livery and a new name followed.

After more than 23 years of flying, EI-IKB was finally retired. Part of its genuine fuselage skin was preserved by Aircrafttag, allowing a physical piece of this aircraft – and of modern Italian aviation history – to live on.

The Beginning of EI-IKB

EI-IKB was built as an Airbus A320-214 with manufacturer serial number MSN 1226.

The aircraft performed its first flight on 13 April 2000 using the Airbus test registration F-WWIG.

On 30 May 2000, it was delivered to Alitalia with the Italian registration I-BIKB.

The Airbus A320 had already become an important part of European short- and medium-haul aviation, and aircraft like I-BIKB formed the backbone of Alitalia’s European network.

For the new A320, it was the beginning of a relationship with Italian aviation that would last for more than two decades.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

During its Alitalia career, I-BIKB carried the name Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Naming aircraft after famous figures had a long tradition at Alitalia, and Mozart’s name accompanied the Airbus through much of its flying career.

In November 2010, the aircraft was re-registered from I-BIKB to EI-IKB.

The registration changed, but the aircraft remained with Alitalia.

Over the following years, EI-IKB continued operating throughout the airline’s domestic and European network, connecting Italy with destinations across the continent.

By the time its Alitalia career was approaching its end, the aircraft had already spent more than 21 years in service.

But its story was not finished.

The End of Alitalia – And a New Beginning

October 2021 marked one of the most significant moments in modern Italian commercial aviation.

After decades of flying, Alitalia ceased operations.

For many aircraft, this meant the end of their careers with the Italian flag carrier. But a number of aircraft were selected to continue flying with its successor, ITA Airways.

EI-IKB was one of them.

On 14 October 2021, EI-IKB operated its final service for Alitalia.

The following day, 15 October 2021, it entered service with ITA Airways.

Within a matter of hours, the same Airbus A320 had become part of a new chapter in Italian aviation.

From Alitalia Green to ITA Blue

Initially, EI-IKB continued flying without the full visual identity that would later make ITA Airways aircraft so distinctive.

That changed in 2022.

The aircraft was sent for repainting and emerged in ITA Airways' striking blue livery.

Deep metallic blue covered almost the entire fuselage, complemented by the airline's white lettering and the colours of the Italian flag on the tail.

It was a dramatic transformation for an aircraft that had spent more than two decades associated with Alitalia.

The same fuselage that had carried Alitalia colours for most of its life was now covered in one of the most distinctive liveries in European aviation.

And EI-IKB received another new identity.

Giacomo Agostini

Under ITA Airways, EI-IKB was named Giacomo Agostini.

The name honoured one of Italy's most celebrated motorcycle racers and reflected ITA Airways' tradition of naming aircraft after famous Italian sports personalities.

It created an interesting contrast with the aircraft's previous identity.

For Alitalia, the aircraft had been Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

For ITA Airways, it became Giacomo Agostini.

Two names from completely different worlds, carried by the same Airbus A320 during two different eras of Italian aviation.

A Short Chapter with ITA Airways

Compared with its long Alitalia career, EI-IKB's time with ITA Airways was relatively brief.

The aircraft had already been flying for more than 21 years when ITA Airways began operations.

As the new airline gradually introduced a younger generation of aircraft, including new Airbus A320neo family aircraft, older members of the inherited fleet began to leave service.

EI-IKB was among them.

In September 2023, after almost 23 and a half years since its first flight, the aircraft was withdrawn from use.

On 13 October 2023, EI-IKB arrived at Teesside International Airport in the United Kingdom for storage.

Its flying career was over.

The End of the Aircraft

At Teesside, EI-IKB gradually transitioned from an operational airliner to a source of reusable aircraft components.

By early 2024, the aircraft had already been photographed without its engines.

Eventually, the Airbus was dismantled.

For an aircraft that had spent more than two decades carrying passengers around Europe, it was the physical end of a remarkably long career.

But not every part of EI-IKB disappeared.

Part of its distinctive blue fuselage was preserved.

From Airbus A320 to Aircrafttag

Sections of genuine fuselage skin from EI-IKB were recovered before the aircraft disappeared completely.

The material was then transformed by Aircrafttag into collectible pieces of aviation history.

What makes this particular aircraft skin especially distinctive is its ITA Airways finish.

The deep blue paint has a metallic appearance that changes with the light, giving the surface a character very different from conventional white aircraft liveries.

Scratches, marks, variations in the paint and other traces remain part of the original material.

They are not imperfections added later.

They are part of the aircraft's history.

Every Aircrafttag made from EI-IKB therefore originates from the actual Airbus A320 that once flew first for Alitalia and later for ITA Airways.

One Aircraft. Two Eras of Italian Aviation.

EI-IKB began its career in 2000 as Alitalia Airbus A320 I-BIKB.

It carried the name Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and spent more than two decades flying for Italy's historic flag carrier.

Then came October 2021.

Alitalia disappeared and ITA Airways began operations.

EI-IKB crossed that historic dividing line.

It received ITA's blue colours, a new name – Giacomo Agostini – and continued flying as part of a new generation of Italian aviation.

More than 23 yea