MSC plans to create a partnership with the German airline Lufthansa and the Italian government to take the carrier to the next level. According to travel newspaper TTG, all parties now start a 90-day period of exclusivity when the Italian authorities will examine their proposal.
MSC added: "MSC Group’s interest derives from the possibility of activating positive synergies for both companies in the cargo and passenger sectors where the MSC Group is a global leader."
"ITA Airways is satisfied that the work carried out in recent months to offer the best prospects to the company is starting to have the expected results, providing for a company recognised as viable for partners of international reputation both in passenger and cargo transport. The Board of Directors will examine the details of the Expression of Interest in an upcoming meeting."
ITA Airways is a company totally owned by the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance which started in November 2020. The airline has a fleet of some 50+ aircraft, including 7 wide-bodies and 45 narrow-bodies aircraft. Later in 2022, the fleet will rise to 78 aircraft, including 13 wide-bodies and 65 narrow-bodies. From 2022, new-generation aircraft will gradually join the fleet replacing old technology aircraft.
The Milan Linate - London City route with three flights a day from Mondays to Fridays, one flight on Saturdays and two flights on Sundays. Flights will be departing from Linate at 07:00 a.m., 12:20 p.m. and 5:40 p.m., and from London City at 08:25 a.m., 01:45 p.m. and 7:05 p.m. for a total of 36 round-trip flights a week.
Maren Wolters, Managing Director of German Airways: "We are delighted that ITA is working with us. We can benefit from the excellent reputation that we have hard-earned: We are known as a very reliable service provider with great know-how in the industry. With ITA, another major European airline joins our customer base, which already includes renowned European airlines."