Category Archives: Air Italy (3rd)

Qatar Airways statement on Air Italy

Since the acquisition on September 28, 2017 of a minority stake in Air Italy, Qatar Airways has strongly believed in the company and in its potential, supporting management’s proposed business plan with a view to improving Air Italy’s growth and job creation, with the addition of long-haul routes and numerous in-flight service improvements, in line with Qatar Airways’ globally renowned high standards.

Despite our minority shareholder’s role, Qatar Airways has continuously provided all possible support to Air Italy right from the beginning, from releasing aircraft from our fleet and ordering new aircraft for Air Italy, to backing management choices and injecting capital and investment as required and permitted.

Even with the changing competitive environment and the increasingly difficult market conditions severely impacting the air transport industry, Qatar Airways has continually reaffirmed its commitment, as a minority shareholder, to continue investing in the company to create value for Italy and the travelling public and to provide support for Air Italy and its staff because for Qatar Airways the focus on employees is a core priority in its strive for excellence – in addition to supporting local communities and other stakeholders.

For this reason, Qatar Airways was ready once again to play its part in supporting the growth of the airline, but this would only have been possible with the commitment of all shareholders.

Air Italy to shut down

Air Italy made this announcement today:

Following the shareholders’ meeting of Air Italy (Alisarda and Qatar Airways through AQA Holding spa) which decided the “liquidazione in bonis” of the company, and with the aim of minimizing the inconvenience for passengers holding Air Italy tickets, we inform all passengers that:

From February 11 to 25, 2020 inclusive, all Air Italy flights will be operated by other carriers at the times and on the days previously scheduled; all passengers who booked flights (outward or return) after February 25, 2020 will be re-protected or fully refunded.

More specifically:

All scheduled flights (outward or return) up to and including February 25, 2020 (including the first departures on the morning of February 26, 2020 of domestic flights to Malpensa and from Male and Dakar airports) will be regularly operated, without any changes to the original scheduled dates and times and on the same flight conditions. Passengers will be able to fly using their ticket. Alternatively, passengers can always opt for a full ticket refund by emailing the following address refunds@airitaly.com (or contacting their travel agency) prior to their flight’s departure time.
For all tickets scheduled to depart by February 25, 2020 and to return after February 25, 2020:
- – the outward journey will be regularly operated, without any changes to the original scheduled dates and times and the same flight conditions; with regards to the return flight, passengers will be offered a travel option on the first available flight of another carrier, the details of which will be provided from 18 February 2020 by calling the following number from Italy: 892928, from abroad: +39078952682, from Usa: +1 866 3876359, from Canada: +1 800 7461888, or by contacting the travel agency in the case of purchase through this channel.
- – Alternatively, passengers can opt to claim their refund for unused flight segments, by emailing the following address refunds@airitaly.com (or by contacting the travel agency if the ticket was purchased through it) prior to the flight’s departure time.
Tickets for return flights after February 25, 2020:
- – If purchased directly via the web (Air Italy portal) or Air Italy contact center, they will be fully refunded in a manner that will be provided via email, or requesting it at the address refunds@airitaly.com
- – If purchased through the Air Italy ticket office, they will be fully refunded by going to any Air Italy ticket office
- – If purchased through a travel agency it will be necessary to request a refund or a change of travel by contacting the agency

All bookings for which the travel document has not been completed through the purchase of the ticket will automatically lapse. For more information, the toll-free number from Italy: 892928; from abroad: +39078952682 from Usa: +1 866 3876359 from Canada: +1 800 7461888

Top Copyright Photo: Air Italy (3rd) Airbus A330-202 EI-GGN (msn 482) MIA (Brian McDonough). Image: 949038.

Air Italy aircraft slide show:

Will Air Italy’s fate be determined today?

Air Italy is reportedly facing a critical financial decision point. Today a special board meeting will be held to discuss the options.

The airline is a subsidiary of AQA Holding and is owned by Alisarda (51%) and Qatar Airways (49%). Because of European rules, Qatar Airways cannot increase its share.

The airline operates a fleet of Boeing 737 Next Generation, Boeing 737 MAX 8 and Airbus A330-200 aircraft to over 34 scheduled domestic, European and intercontinental destinations.

The airlines operates its main hub at Milan Malpensa Airport.

Previously Qatar Airways had big plans for Air Italy. It wanted the carrier to grow quickly to 50 aircraft by 2022. With the grounding of the MAX this is not likely to happen.

The grounding of the Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 has also forced the carrier to sub-lease other expensive aircraft and crews to handle the shortage.

The new Air Italy has also failed to make a profit. It closed 2018 with losses of 164 million euros. It could have recorded a loss of over 200 million euros in 2019.

The key question today will be will the two main shareholders put more money into the failing company or liquidate? The status quo is not working.

Air Italy (3rd) aircraft photo gallery:

Air Italy signs codeshare agreement with Oman Air

Air Italy and Oman Air are delighted to announce that they have entered into a codeshare partnership to offer customers enhanced connectivity between the Sultanate of Oman and seven major destinations in Italy.

Under the agreement, Air Italy’s “IG” code is being placed on Oman Air’s flights between Milan Malpensa and Muscat, which are all on sale on the airitaly.com website.

At the same time Oman Air is putting its “WY” code on Air Italy flights between Milan Malpensa and Rome Fiumicino, Naples, Cagliari (Sardinia), Palermo and Catania (Sicily), and Lamezia Terme (Calabria).

Additionally, as a next step Oman Air’s code will also be added to Air Italy’s Milan-New York and Milan-Miami flights, subject to the necessary government approvals.

Air Italy aircraft photo gallery:

Oman Air aircraft photo gallery:

Air Italy’s first Milan- Malé service takes off

Air Italy has made this announcement:

Air Italy heralds start of Winter Season with new flights to the Maldives, Mombasa, Zanzibar and Tenerife all in same week.

Air Italy’s first nonstop flight to Malè, (IG995), was inaugurated on October 29, taking off from Milan Malpensa at 6.15 pm.

The Milan–Maldives route, together with the flights to Zanzibar and Mombasa, which commence service on November 1, 2019are also joined this week by the inaugural flight to Tenerife, which was launched two days ago, completing the airline’s new winter season lineup.

As VIPs and dignitaries gathered to celebrate at the airline’s Milan Malpensa hub, there was a traditional cake and ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the departure of the A330 aircraft.

All international flights to and from Milan Malpensa, including the new service for the Maldives, benefit from connections with domestic flights served by Air Italy between Milan and central and southern Italy, namely Rome, Naples, Palermo, Catania, Lamezia Terme and Cagliari.

Air Italy’s long-haul network is operated by Airbus A330-200s with 24 seats in Business Class and 228 seats in Economy Class, operating from the Milan Malpensa hub where the airline operates all year round direct flights to New York (daily) and Miami (daily except Tuesday). Also from Malpensa, Air Italy offers direct flights to Los Angeles, San Francisco and Toronto in the summer season, from March to October, while during from the winter season the company operate weekly flights to the Maldives, Zanzibar and Mombasa.

Air Italy aircraft photo gallery:

Air Italy signs new partnerships with Finnair and El Al

Air Italy has made this announcement:

Air Italy is delighted to announce the signing of two Special Prorate Agreements (SPA) with key carriers Finnair and El Al.

Now, thanks to the agreement with Finnair, five new key destinations in Finland (Helsinki, Turku, Oulu, Kokkola and Rovaniemi) are all now available via Milan Malpensa for Air Italy passengers departing from our seven key airports in central & southern Italy (Rome, Naples, Palermo, Catania, Lamezia Terme, Cagliari and Olbia).

At the same time, Finnair’s customers have now the opportunity to fly to Air Italy’s African destinations, traveling from Finland via Milan Malpensa, and connect seamlessly to Dakar, Lagos, Accra, Sharm El-Sheikh and Cairo.

Simultaneously, with respect to El Al, Air Italy’s passengers arriving in Milan Malpensa from North America will now be able to connect with El Al to land in Tel Aviv while El Al’s customers departing from Tel Aviv can now easily reach Air Italy’s North American destinations via Milan Malpensa.

Moreover, from Tel Aviv, El Al’s passengers can also connect to Air Italy’s domestic network from Malpensa to the key cities and towns of central and southern Italy such as Rome, Naples, Palermo, Catania, Lamezia Terme, Cagliari and Olbia.

Athens joins Air Italy network thanks to a new agreement with Aegean Airlines

Air Italy has made this announcement:

Starting on July 10, 2019, Air Italy has added Athens as a new destination to its network, thanks to the signing of a new Special Prorate Agreement with Aegean Airlines.

Air Italy passengers traveling from the four US destinations – Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami and New York – and from Toronto can now easily reach the Greek capital via Air Italy’s Milan Malpensa hub, continuing with flights directly to Athens on Aegean Airlines.

In addition, all Air Italy customers departing from the main airports of central and southern Italy, such as Rome, Naples, Palermo, Catania, Lamezia Terme, Cagliari and Olbia will now have the opportunity to fly Athens via Malpensa.

Air Italy adds 10 new destinations through agreement with Alaska Airlines

Air Italy has added 10 new destinations to its network through the signing of a Special Prorate Agreement with Alaska Airlines.

The new interline agreement starts the airlines’ partnership with 10 destinations across the US and Mexico: Anchorage, Honolulu, Las Vegas, Seattle, Portland, Palm Springs, San Diego, Newark, San Jose (CA) and Guadalajara (Mexico).

Air Italy passengers will now be able to connect to AS’s network at Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York (JFK) airports, which Air Italy serves directly from Milan Malpensa with its fleet of Airbus 330-200 aircraft offering 24 fully flatbed seats in Business Class and 228 seats in Economy Class.

The agreement builds on the launch of Air Italy’s nonstop flights to Los Angeles and San Francisco in April 2019 and to New York in 2018.

The new SPA agreement builds on the launch of Air Italy flights from California, Toronto, New York and Miami to Milan, all of which enable more customers across North America to experience the airline’s new product offerings and Italian hospitality.

All inbound Air Italy passengers can take advantage of seamless domestic connections between Milan and central and southern Italy, namely Rome, Naples, Palermo, Catania, Lamezia Terme, Cagliari and Olbia.

Air Italy launches the Milan – Toronto route

Air Italy on May 6 launched the Milan (Malpensa) – Toronto (Pearson).

Air Italy announced the new route on social media:

Air Italy’s inaugural flight to Toronto took off on May 6 from Milan Malpensa following a launch ceremony featuring media and dignitaries led by Rahim Aga Khan, Sultan Ali Allana, Director Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development, Rossen Dimitrov, Chief Operating Officer Air Italy, and Armando Brunini, Chief Executive Officer SEA.

All photos by Air Italy.

American, Delta and United pressure the White House against Qatar Airways and Air Italy

The CEOs of American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines have published an open letter to the White House concerning Qatar Airways and Air Italy:

President Donald J. Trump The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Trump,

Your administration was built on the enduring principle that the U.S. government will stand up for American workers against foreign governments that break their trade agreements with our country. The American people are grateful for that promise.

Today, America’s airline workers are counting on you to step up on their behalf.

In January 2018, your administration reached a historic agreement with Qatar over its Open Skies violations. While we hoped this agreement would hold Qatar accountable and force its heavily subsidized airline, Qatar Airways, to follow the rules and stop hurting American workers, that did not happen.

Today, Qatar Airways is ignoring the 2018 agreement that your administration signed by using massive government subsidies to launch new routes to the United States through its stake in Air Italy. Air Italy was a struggling regional carrier until Qatar Airways injected tens of millions of dollars into the company to circumvent the agreement and expand its U.S. presence. In the last few days, Qatar Airways has used its Italian proxy to launch routes to Los Angeles and San Francisco, and added flights to Miami – a further effort to undermine U.S. airlines. Simply put, Qatar Airways represents a grave threat to American jobs and the health of the airline industry.

No rule-abiding business can compete with a massively subsidized airline that ignores economic realities and can wipe away losses with one infusion of government cash after another.

We respectfully encourage your administration to hold Qatar accountable for violating
its agreement with the United States and affirm that we will not tolerate these continued infractions. We appreciate your resolute leadership in enforcing fair trade principles and ask that you continue to stand up for the more than 1.2 million U.S. workers whose jobs depend on a strong and vibrant passenger airline industry.

Sincerely,

Doug Parker, CEO, American Airlines

Edward Bastian, CEO Delta Air Lines

Oscar Munoz, CEO, United Airlines