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PhrasesOn the PlaneQuando atterriamo?
A1informal

Quando atterriamo?

When do we land?

Pronunciation

at-ter-RIA-mo — stress on third syllable. The double 'r' and double 't' are both held briefly.

When to use it

During the flight when you want to know the estimated arrival time.

What it means

'Atterriamo' is the first person plural of 'atterrare' (to land), making it 'when do we land'. This is a complete, natural question. The flight information is usually announced by the pilot and visible on the seat-back screen as 'ETA' (estimated time of arrival).

Variations

A che ora arriviamo a destinazione?

What time do we arrive at the destination?

More precise — asking for local time at destination

Quanto manca all'atterraggio?

How long until landing?

'Quanto manca' = how long is left. 'Atterraggio' is the noun for landing

Siamo in anticipo o in ritardo?

Are we early or late?

Compare current status to scheduled arrival

Mini Dialogue

— Quando atterriamo? — Tra circa un'ora e venti minuti. Siamo in orario. — Che ora sarà là? — A Roma sono le 15:40 ora locale. — Grazie. C'è ancora il servizio bevande? — Sì, tra pochi minuti.

— When do we land? — In about one hour and twenty minutes. We are on time. — What time will it be there? — In Rome it's 15:40 local time. — Thank you. Is there still the drinks service? — Yes, in a few minutes.

Cultural Note

Italian pilots (comandante) typically make announcements in Italian and English. They give cruising altitude, outside temperature, local time at destination, and estimated arrival. On ITA Airways flights, the pilot's announcement style tends to be formal and brief compared to the chattier style of some low-cost carriers.