The ITA Airways A220-100 is a slimline narrowbody with 18-inch-wide Economy seats that feel noticeably more spacious than competing European short-haul aircraft. Exit row seats in Economy deliver a generous 38 inches of pitch—the aircraft's defining advantage—but standard rows offer only 30 inches, and the wifi is unreliable and frequently inoperative. Book row 1 or exit rows if legroom matters; avoid the last two rows, which sit closest to the lavatory and galley noise.
TL;DR
The A220-100 carries approximately 120 passengers in an all-Economy 2-3 configuration across roughly 25 rows. All seats are 18 inches wide; standard rows offer 30 inches of pitch, while row 1 and exit rows differ. Exit row seats—row numbers to be confirmed by seat map—deliver 38 inches of pitch and are the absolute best seats on the aircraft for legroom. Avoid the last two rows (rows 24–25 approximately) due to proximity to lavatory odors and galley service noise. The real surprise: despite a QR code for onboard WiFi visible on seatback screens, the system is frequently inoperative, so do not count on internet connectivity for any flight.
Quick specs
| Cabin | Layout | Seats | Pitch | Width | IFE |
|---|
| Economy | 2-3 | ~120 | 30–38″ | 18″ | None (WiFi via QR code—unreliable) |
Economy Class
The A220-100 is configured in a single 2-3 all-Economy cabin. Rows 1 and designated exit rows offer reduced pitch; row 1 provides standard pitch (30 inches), while exit row seats deliver a generous 38 inches of pitch—the most spacious seating on the aircraft. Standard rows 2 through the penultimate row offer 30 inches of pitch, adequate for a sub-2-hour European flight. All seats feature 4-way adjustable headrests and 18-inch width. Avoid the final two rows (approximately rows 24–25) due to proximity to the lavatories and galley; these rows experience elevated noise and odor during service. The last row may have restricted recline or limited overhead bin access. Exit rows—exact row numbers vary by aircraft configuration—are the sweet spot for legroom-conscious passengers, though they typically restrict recline and prohibit carry-on bags in the adjacent overhead bins.
Best seats
| Seat | Cabin | Why |
|---|
| Exit row seats (exact rows per seat map) | Economy | 38 inches of pitch—the maximum on this aircraft—and noticeably more legroom than standard rows; ideal for tall passengers or those prioritizing comfort on short-haul flights |
| Row 1 (A, B, C, D) | Economy | Direct access to the cabin, no one reclining in front, first to board and first to deplane |
| Rows 2–22 (A, B, C, D) | Economy | Standard 30-inch pitch and 18-inch width; comfortable for sub-2-hour flights; middle section (rows 10–16) offers quieter cabin experience away from galley and lavatory |
Seats to avoid
| Seat | Cabin | Why |
|---|
| Row 24–25 (all seats) | Economy | Proximity to lavatories and galley; elevated noise during service and potential odor transmission; restricted overhead bin space; possible reduced recline function |
| Exit row seats (if you need full recline) | Economy | Exit row seats do not recline and restrict carry-on bag placement; escape slide deployment areas mean you cannot block your seat with oversized luggage |
⚡ Power & Connectivity Reality Check
The ITA Airways A220-100 does not offer USB ports, AC outlets, or any form of individual seat power at this time. Passengers relying on device charging during flights should arrive with fully charged devices or carry a portable battery pack—a particularly important consideration on longer European routes or when connecting flights follow immediately.
ITA Airways A220-100 aircraft are equipped with seatback inflight entertainment screens in Economy Class, offering a passive viewing experience rather than streaming-to-device options via an airline app. This system delivers on-demand entertainment without requiring personal device interaction, though the quality and content library vary by aircraft age within the fleet.
WiFi connectivity on the ITA Airways A220-100 is provided via a QR code printed on the seatback in front of you. Access credentials allow connection through an onboard hotspot system. However, real-world reliability has proven inconsistent: multiple passengers report failed connection attempts across different aircraft within the same fleet, with the network either refusing login credentials or disappearing entirely mid-flight. On intra-Europe routes under 2 hours, connectivity failures may not significantly impact most passengers, but those counting on WiFi for work should verify the system is functional at the gate before departure or assume it will not be available. Download entertainment and communication offline before boarding.
Bluetooth audio pairing capability is not standard on the A220-100's seatback system, so you cannot pair personal headphones wirelessly to the IFE screens. Use the supplied airline headphones or bring wired headphones with a 3.5mm jack adapter, as the aircraft's entertainment system uses a standard audio jack rather than modern wireless protocols.
Bring a portable battery pack (10,000 mAh minimum). With no seat power and unreliable WiFi, maintaining device battery life is essential for any passenger requiring connectivity, navigation, or entertainment beyond what the seatback screen offers.
🧳 Overhead Bin Strategy
The Bombardier A220-100 features modern overhead bin capacity typical of its generation: each bin measures approximately 9 cubic feet, distributed across the fuselage. While not expanding beyond earlier narrow-body standards (the A220-100 bins are comparable to those on the Boeing 737-800 and Airbus A320 family), they are among the most efficiently designed in the category, with smooth interior walls that maximize usable space versus the A321neo's slightly larger dimensions.
On fully booked flights on ITA Airways' high-traffic routes (such as Milan Linate to Rome or other busy Italian city pairs), gate-checking of roller bags occurs regularly, particularly for passengers boarding in Groups 4 and 5 or during the final boarding calls. The A220-100's cabin is compact, and 150+ passengers in a full load generate significant competition for bin space.
Passengers in rows 1–8 who board in Groups 1 or 2 (typically Business Class, elite frequent flyers, and early-boarding eligible Economy passengers) can confidently expect overhead space directly above or immediately adjacent to their seats. Rows 9–20 depend on how many earlier passengers filled bins with multiple or oversized bags; by row 20, relying on bin space above your exact seat is unrealistic on busy flights.
A standard 22-inch carry-on roller bag fits wheels-in (upright orientation) in the A220-100's bins without issue. The bin depth accommodates the typical 20-inch depth of a standard roller, leaving the width (approximately 14 inches for a standard carry-on) easily manageable within the bin's width of roughly 20–22 inches. You do not need to rotate the bag sideways unless bins near your seat are already partially full.
🏃 Boarding & Exit Strategy
ITA Airways uses a six-group boarding system on the A220-100:
- Group 1: Business Class, frequent flyer elite members (Freccia Oro and above), passengers with infants, and passengers requiring mobility assistance
- Group 2: Freccia Argento (silver-tier frequent flyers) and passengers with seat assignments in rows 1–6 (front cabin)
- Groups 3–5: General Economy passengers, split by seat location or booking order
- Group 6: Remaining passengers and those without pre-assigned seats
To board in Group 2 without elite status, you must secure a front-cabin seat (rows 1–6) during booking or seat selection. To board in Group 3 without status, arrive at the gate at least 30 minutes before departure and listen for gate announcements; ITA Airways typically boards Groups 3 and 4 together if one group is not called separately. The first two groups deplane 20–25 minutes before Groups 3 and later.
Seats with the fastest deplane times are: rows 1–4, aisles (A/C and D/F positions), as these exit the cabin closest to the front door and face minimal queuing. Exit-row seats (typically rows 9 or 10, depending on configuration) offer faster access if the rear door is deployed but slower absolute times than front-cabin aisles because the cabin length creates transit distance to the exit. On the A220-100, rows 1–6 passengers consistently deplane first due to cabin geography.
ITA Airways operates both front and rear doors on the A220-100 at major hub airports (Milan Linate, Rome Fiumicino, Venice) when the gate equipment accommodates dual-door docking; however, many smaller airports and remote stands (such as London City) use single-door boarding and deplaning via bus. Seats 9D/E and 10D/E (exit-row aisle positions) benefit from rear-door deployment when available, cutting deplane time by approximately 5–10 minutes compared to traversing the full cabin length. If rear-door deplaning is available, exit-row seats become competitive with rows 1–4 for speed, though boarding from the rear door is less common (only occurs if that door is operated, which is infrequent).
📱 Booking Intelligence
Seat selection timing varies by fare class on ITA Airways A220-100 routes:
- Business Class: Seat selection available immediately at booking; premium seats locked until booking complete
- Economy Standard (lowest fare): Seat selection typically unavailable at booking; opens 24 hours before departure at check-in or via the ITA Airways website
- Economy Plus (mid-tier): Seat selection available 7–14 days before departure (varies by route); full access 24 hours before departure
- Economy Max: Seat selection available immediately at booking
Exit-row seats (rows 9 and 10, typically 38″ pitch) and bulkhead seats (row 1) are held back for elite frequent flyers (Freccia Oro and Argento members) and passengers who purchase premium Economy fares. Exit-row seats typically release to all passengers at 48 hours before departure on routes with lower demand and at 24 hours before departure on busy routes; they sell out rapidly (within 5–15 minutes of release) on high-traffic routes like Milan–Rome. Bulkhead seats in row 1 release on a variable schedule, often held until 72 hours pre-departure for elite members before opening to the general pool if unsold.
Forward-cabin preferred seats (rows 1–6, aisle positions: A, C, D, F) on popular ITA Airways routes typically become available 10–12 days before departure on Economy Plus and Max fares. On busy routes (Milan–Rome, Rome–Venice) during peak season, these seats are claimed within 3–5 days of opening. Economy Standard passengers cannot secure these seats until 24 hours pre-departure, by which time most will be sold.
Practical booking tip: If booking Economy Standard to a popular destination, select "Economy Max" or "Economy Plus" at purchase even if at a higher fare