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ITA Airways has unveiled a striking new livery on one of its Airbus A320 aircraft, registration EI-DSY, to celebrate the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. The special paint scheme was revealed in early February 2026, just in time for the Winter Games’ opening ceremony taking place in Italy. This aircraft will operate on scheduled short- and medium-haul flights while dressed in vibrant Olympic branding. The design reflects the airline’s role as Official Airline Sponsor and aims to embody Italian pride and the spirit of the Games.
The Milano Cortina special livery is part of a broader campaign by ITA Airways tied to the Olympic partnership that also includes themed passenger experiences both on board and on the ground. Beyond the aircraft itself, the airline has launched installations in the center of Milan and special Business Class menus to immerse travelers in the Olympic atmosphere, featuring Alpine cuisine with seasonal ingredients, as described on the ITA Airways website. With the Games happening across northern Italy, the airline’s visual tribute extends the celebration into the skies.
Aircraft Information And Where To Spot it
The aircraft at the heart of this story is an Airbus A320-216 bearing the registration EI-DSY, part of ITA Airways’ narrow-body fleet. Originally delivered in 2009 to Air One, later absorbed into Alitalia’s fleet in 2014, and finally receiving ITA’s livery following the airline’s launch after the Alitalia bankruptcy in 2021, the jet was repainted earlier this week with a bespoke Olympic-themed livery designed by Italian illustrator Emiliano Ponzi.
The special livery combines ITA’s signature corporate blue with sweeping graphics that evoke Alpine peaks, snow, ice, and sporting motion – all visual references to the setting and spirit of the Winter Games. The unique paint scheme transforms the aircraft into a storytelling canvas, celebrating Italy’s landscape and the dedication of winter athletes.
Beyond aesthetics, the aircraft continues to fly ITA Airways’ everyday network, bringing the Olympics into regular commercial service and touching down at airports across Italy and Europe while promoting the Games. You can follow this aircraft on Flightradar24 and even book a flight as long as the special livery is still in use.
An ITA Airways spokesperson told AviationNews the following regarding this livery:
“This aircraft symbolizes our pride in representing Italy on the world stage and supporting Milano Cortina 2026.”
Celebrating Italy’s Winter Games
ITA Airways’ involvement with Milano Cortina 2026 extends beyond a painted fuselage. As the Official Airline Sponsor, the carrier has rolled out initiatives such as SKYWAY, a temporary brand installation in Piazza San Carlo in Milan that brings together design, sport, and aviation. Elements of this installation echo the airline’s visual identity and the alpine worlds of the Games.
Onboard the special aircraft and other aircraft in the network during the Olympic period, passengers can also enjoy themed Business Class menus that reflect Italy’s Alpine culinary traditions. These menus augment the sense of occasion and further tie the travel experience to the spirit of the Winter Olympics.
The Milano Cortina 2026 Games kicked off with an international opening ceremony held across multiple locations in northern Italy, underscoring the event’s nationwide significance. ITA’s special livery fits within this context as a mobile emblem of national pride and the collective celebration of sport.
From a broader perspective, special liveries like this one have become important brand tools for airlines, turning aircraft into flying ambassadors that carry stories and partnerships around the world. Major sports events are increasingly popular among airlines worldwide, with many featuring special liveries to promote the event or the team. For ITA Airways, this Olympic scheme helps reinforce its identity at home and abroad.
Air Canada Celebrates Olympians With Special A330 Livery Ahead Of 2026 Games
The jet in question made a rather apt first post-repaint flight last night.
How The Olympic Partnership Extends Beyond The Aircraft
The Milano Cortina livery represents just one facet of ITA Airways’ engagement with the 2026 Winter Olympics.
For example, according to ItaliAbsolutely, ITA Airways’ Olympic activation has included decorative stickers on other aircraft, prizes for travelers, and broader advertising campaigns across TV, web, social media, and radio, underscoring the airline’s commitment to elevating the profile of the Games and its own brand.
This special livery joins a growing trend in which airlines celebrate major global events with unique aircraft graphics, from world fairs and environmental campaigns to external brand promotion and sporting tournaments, blending marketing with cultural celebration. As the Milano Cortina Games unfold, EI-DSY will remain a flying reminder of Italy’s role as host and ITA Airways’ central position in connecting the world to this moment.
