Tag Archives: Air Italy (3rd)

Air Italy’s first Los Angeles-Milan flight takes-off

Air Italy’s first nonstop service from Los Angeles to Milan Malpensa was inaugurated on April 3, taking off from Los Angeles at 6.50 pm, adding a third direct service to North America following last year’s launch of Milan-New York JFK and Milan-Miami.

The new Los Angeles-Milan IG944 service which will operate four times weekly was inaugurated by Air Italy’s Chief Operating Officer, Rossen Dimitrov, who thanked Joe Buscaino, Council Member Los Angeles City, Keith Wilschetz, Deputy Executive Director Los Angeles World Airport, Max Reyes, Office of Los Angeles Mayor Garcetti Infrastructure Manager and Silvia Chiave, General Consul of Italy in Los Angeles and gave a warm send off to the departing passengers and media representatives.

In celebration of this new service, there was a traditional cake and ribbon cutting ceremony as the departure of the A330 aircraft was marked with a celebratory water cannon.

Air Italy’s next and fourth US service to be inaugurated will be the four-weekly services between San Francisco and Milan, which will commence on April 10^th with flights each Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Tuesday.

The new flights from Los Angeles are four times weekly (Wednesday, Friday, Sunday, Monday) and are operated by Air Italy’s new Airbus A330-200 offering 24 seats in Business and 228 in Economy class.

All international flights to and from Milan Malpensa, including the new LAX service, can connect with domestic flights served by Air Italy between Milan and central and southern Italy, namely Rome, Naples, Palermo, Catania, Lamezia Terme, Cagliari, and Olbia.

Summer 2019 – Timetable North America

Milan Malpensa – Los Angeles – Milan Malpensa

(Wednesday, Friday, Sunday, Monday)

Milan (MXP) – Los Angeles (LAX) IG943 departure 1:00 pm arrival 04:50 pm

Los Angeles (LAX) – Milan (MXP) IG944 departure 06:50 pm arrival 03:55 pm (+1 day)

Milan Malpensa – San Francisco – Milan Malpensa

(Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Tuesday)

Milan (MXP) – San Francisco (SFO) IG937 departure 01:35 pm arrival 05:10 pm

San Francisco (SFO) – Milan (MXP) IG938 departure 07:10 pm arrival 04:05 pm (+1 day)

Milan Malpensa – New York JFK – Milan Malpensa

(Daily)

Milan (MXP) – New York (JFK) IG901 departure 01:15 pm arrival 04:40 pm

New York (JFK) – Milan (MXP) IG902 departure 08:30 pm arrival 10:50 am (+1 day)

Milan Malpensa – Miami – Milan Malpensa

(Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday – From May 1^st, + Thursday)

Milan (MXP) – Miami (MIA) IG969 departure 12:55 am arrival 05:10 pm

Miami (MIA) – Milan (MXP) IG968 departure 07:10 pm arrival 11:05 am (+1 day)

All flights connect with: Rome (FCO), Naples (NAP), Lamezia Terme (SUF), Palermo (PMO), Catania (CTA), Olbia (OLB) and Cagliari (CAG)

Air Italy grounds its three Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 aircraft

Following the European Union announcement closing European airspace to all MAX 8 and MAX 9 aircraft, Air Italy has made this announcement:

As an airline, the safety and security of our passengers and crew is always our first and key priority. With regard to the Boeing 737 MAX 8, all three of our MAX 8 aircraft are being grounded in compliance with the directive issued by ENAC this evening.

As stated previously, all aircraft that we operate are always in full compliance with the regulators’ instructions and manufacturer’s operating procedures. Air Italy will continue to be in constant dialogue with the authorities and Boeing with regard to our Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft and will follow all directives to continue to ensure the maximum level of safety and security for our passengers and crew.

With respect to our ongoing operations, Air Italy will re-protect all passengers.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by the airline): Air Italy (3rd) Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 EI-GGL (msn 64607) PAE (Nick Dean). Image: 943947.

Air Italy (3rd) aircraft slide show:

Poll:

Air Italy signs code share agreement with Bulgaria Air

Air Italy and Bulgaria Air have entered into a code share partnership to offer customers enhanced connectivity between Bulgaria and eight major destinations in Italy, with effect from today.

Under the agreement, Air Italy’s “IG” code will be placed on Bulgaria Air flights between Milan Malpensa and Sofia, Varna and Burgas, which are all on sale from today with the first flights available from March 31st. At the same time, starting with the new summer IATA season, Bulgaria Air will put its “FB” code on Air Italy flights between Milan Malpensa and Rome Fiumicino, Naples, Olbia and Cagliari (Sardinia), Palermo and Catania (Sicily), and Lamezia Terme (Calabria).

Moreover, thanks also to the interline commercial agreement, Bulgaria Air’s passengers will benefit from single tickets for travel between Bulgaria and Air Italy’s US, Canada and Africa destinations operated from Malpensa: Miami, New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco (both from April), Toronto (from May), Cairo, Dakar, Accra and Lagos.

Air Italy drops plans to serve Chicago O’Hare

Air Italy has dropped its plans to launch a Milan (Malpensa) – Chicago (O’Hare) route. The airline is no longer taking reservations. The new route was intended to commence on May 14, 2019.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by Air Italy): Air Italy (3rd) Airbus A330-202 EI-GGP (msn 521) JFK (Fred Freketic). Image: 945550.

Air Italy (3rd) aircraft slide show:

Air Italy is coming to California

Air Italy (3rd) is launching two new California routes from Milan (Malpensa) in the spring 2019.

The rejuvenated carrier is launching a new route to Los Angeles (four days a week) on April 3, 2019 followed by San Francisco (four days a week) on April 10, 2019.

In other news, the airline launched a new route from Milan (Malpensa) to Delhi yesterday (December 7) (below).

This will be followed by a Milan (Malpensa) – Mumbai route starting on December 14, 2018.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by the airline): Air Italy (3rd) Airbus A330-202 EI-GFX (msn 571) ISS (Marco Finelli). Image: 942229.

Air Italy aircraft slide show:

Finnair wet leases an Airbus A330 from Air Italy for its Chicago and Miami routes for the rest of October

Finnair will wet lease an Airbus A330 aircraft and crew from Air Italy for its Chicago and Miami routes for the period of October 12-31, 2019.

One of Finnair’s long-haul aircraft was damaged at Chicago O’Hare International Airport on September 25 when a high loader accidentally hit it. With the wet lease from Air Italy, Finnair ensures that flights to Chicago and Miami can be operated normally while the damaged aircraft is being repaired.

Air Italy aircraft and crew will be operating Finnair flights to Chicago and Miami as follows:

All flights between Helsinki and Chicago (AY09/AY10) from Oct 12 to Oct 29. Finnair has four weekly return flights between Helsinki and Chicago, the flight days are Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
Five return flights between Helsinki and Miami (AY07/AY08) on the following dates: Oct 14, Oct 16, Oct 21, Oct 23 and Oct 30.

The wet leased aircraft from Air Italy has 24 full-flat seats in business class and 232 seats in economy class, all with a seat-back inflight entertainment system. With the wet lease, the cockpit and cabin crew come from Air Italy, and the flights will have two Finnair cabin crew members on board to support the delivery of Finnair’s customer service concept.

Finnair contacts customers with bookings on the flights to be operated with the wet leased aircraft directly to inform them of the change in carrier. Customers can cancel their flight or change the departure date due to the change in carrier. Cancellations or changes can be made by contacting Finnair customer service.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by the airlines): Air Italy (3rd) Airbus A330-202 EI-GGP (msn 521) MXP (Javier Rodriguez). Image: 942618.

Air Italy aircraft slide show:

Air Italy starts Milan – Bangkok services

Air Italy (3rd) on September 9, 2018 commenced a new route between its Milan (Malpensa) hub and Bangkok. A water cannon salute was performed for the first departure from MXP.

The airline added: “Live on board and cruising at 37,000ft on our inaugural Milan to Bangkok flight – ready to enjoy our new signature Business Class service.”

“Flying over Baku and enjoying our delicious Sardinian Culurgiones Pasta with Tomato and Basil.”

All photos by Air Italy.

Air Italy’s first Milan – Miami flight takes off from Malpensa

Air Italy’s first flight from Milan (Malpensa) to Miami took off today (June 8). This follows last week’s launch of daily service to New York (JFK). The new route is being operated with newly acquired Airbus A330-200s.

The next new international route will be from Milan (Malpensa) to Bangkok starting on September 9, 2018. It will be operated four days a week.

Air Italy is full owned by AQA Holdings (51% Alisarda and 49% Qatar Airways).

Top Copyright Photo (all others by Air Italy): Air Italy (3rd) Airbus A330-202 EI-GFX (msn 571) ISS (Marco Finelli). Image: 942229.

Air Italy aircraft slide show:

The first Airbus A330-200 is painted for the new Air Italy

Air Italy published these photos of its first Airbus A330-200 (EI-GFX) painted in the full new livery at Dublin.

All photos by Air Italy.

Air Italy unveils its first Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 at Milan Malpensa

Air Italy (3rd) (Milan-Malpensa), as previously reported, took delivery of its first Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 (EI-GFY) on May 12, 2018 in Seattle. Two days later the rebranded carrier, with officials from part-owner Qatar Airways standing by, welcomed the new airliner to the Milan Malpensa base with the water cannon salute (top) and the official unveiling. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was also held with Qatar Airways CEO Al Baker presiding (below).

All photos by Marco Finelli.

Air Italy has 19 additional copies on order.

New crew uniforms were also introduced.

Below Photo: Officially the new MAX 8s are designated as Boeing 737-8s as detailed on the data plate.

The first Air Italy MAX 8 is due to go into revenue service tomorrow (May 16) from MXP to Naples and Palermo.

In addition, the former Qatar Airways A330-203 A7-ACE (msn 571) (below) has now become EI-GFX and is being painted for Air Italy at Dublin. Qatar Airways is leasing five 260-seat Airbus A330-200s to Air Italy pending the delivery of new Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners in 2019.

Air Italy is an Italian airline fully owned by AQA Holding (51% Alisarda and 49% Qatar Airways), with its headquarters in Olbia. The company was established with the name of Alisarda on March 29, 1963, with the aim of promoting tourism to Sardinia.

In 1991 the name was changed to Meridiana. Following a merger with charter carrier Eurofly and the acquisition of the charter company Air Italy the airline became the most important Italian player in international leisure flights.

In December 2017 growth towards new domestic, medium-haul and long haul destinations from Milan Malpensa was announced reflecting a major strategic shift for the company.

In February 2018 a new corporate identity was presented and the company was rebranded as Air Italy.

Beginning in May 2018, Air Italy will add new domestic routes from Milan to Rome, Naples, Palermo, Catania, Lamezia Terme scheduled for connection to its newest long-range destinations including New York, Miami and Bangkok (starting in September 2018).

Its network also includes direct international flights from Milan Malpensa to Accra, Cairo, Dakar, Havana, Lagos, Mombasa, Moscow, Zanzibar and, from its Olbia Costa Smeralda hub, year-round scheduled services to Rome, Milan Linate and seasonal ones to a wide range of domestic and regional destinations.

Air Italy’s fleet, currently comprising 8 Boeing 737 NGs and 3 Boeing 767-300s, will be progressively renewed with 8 new aircraft – 3 brand new Boeing 737 MAX 8s and 5 Airbus A330-200s joining during 2018 and with the full retirement of the Boeing 767-300 by the end of 2018.

All photos by Marco Finelli, reporting from Milan.

Top Copyright Photo: Air Italy (3rd) Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 EI-GFY (msn 64605) MXP (Marco Finelli). Image: 941855.

Air Italy (3rd) aircraft slide show: