Air Italy (2nd) (Rome) will be merged into Meridiana fly (Olbia) by February 15. According to this report by First Online (translated from Italian), “Meridiana SpA will acquire all of the ordinary shares held by the former shareholders of Meridiana fly – Air Italy Holding Ltd. (Marchin Investments BV, Pathfinder Ltd and Zain Holding Ltd., which together control 38.71% of the shares of the combined airline group). Meridiana fly will then turn over 89.91% of the share capital to its new controlling shareholder AKFED, controlled by Prince Karīm al-Hussayn Aga Khan. The transfer of shares will be completed by February 15. The new CEO of the reorganized Meridiana fly will be Roberto Scaramella, the aviation director of AKFED, who replaces Joseph Gentile.”
Read the full report (in Italian): CLICK HERE
Meridiana fly was originally founded as Alisarda on March 29, 1963 by Prince Karīm al-Hussayn Aga Khan, with the aim to promote tourism in Sardinia. Scheduled flights have been operated since 1964.
On May 3, 1991, Alisarda was renamed Meridiana.
At the end of February 2010, a new airline was founded: Meridiana fly, born from the merger of Eurofly, a company specializing in charter flights and Meridiana, with a scheduled European and national route network, mostly aimed at connecting the main Italian airports with the two main islands of Sardinia and Sicily.
Air Italy (2nd) joined the Meridiana Group in October 2011.
Additionally, according to ch-aviation, the AOCs of both carriers were revoked by ENAC this week due to the financial difficulties of the two carriers and were issued temporary AOCs for a year.
Read the full report: CLICK HERE
Currently the two Italian airlines are now sharing the same website. Aga Khan is expected to increase his share holdings and investment in the new airline.
Bottom line, the Air Italy name and brand will be retired.
Top Copyright Photo: Arnd Wolf. Boeing 767-304 ER N769NA (msn 28039) of Air Italy completes its final approach into Miami International Airport.
Air Italy (2nd): 
Meridiana fly:
Bottom Copyright Photo: Marco Finelli. Meridiana fly has been slow to develop its own brand. Since the merger with Eurofly, most aircraft are still operated in uninspiring white schemes. Even this Airbus A320-214 I-EEZI (msn 749) at Bologna still wears the old colors of Eurofly. A total remake of the new entity must be accomplished for the new company to thrive.
