Air Italy reinforces its code-share agreements with Qatar Airways and Bulgaria Air

Air Italy reinforces its code-share agreements with Qatar Airways and Bulgaria Air

Sydney added to Air Italy destinations served from Milan Malpensa. Sofia now available also from Rome

Air Italy is delighted to announce that two of its code-share agreements have been expanded in order to include further new destinations and travel opportunities for its passengers.

With effect from today, the codeshare with Qatar Airways, already in place since April 2017, and with Bulgaria Air, which started this February, have been expanded to offer to Air Italy customers an enhanced network.

Under the agreement with Qatar Airways, Air Italy’s “IG” code is already placed on Qatar Airways flights between Doha and Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa, Pisa and Venice, as well as Singapore and the Maldives. As of today, Sydney will be added on a daily basis to this destination portfolio.

Air Italy open sales for next summer on Toronto, Los Angeles & San Francisco

All routes currently in summer season are re-confirmed from March 29th 2020 to October 24th 2020

Air Italy is delighted to announce that on March 29th 2020, will be recommencing its flights to Los Angeles, San Francisco and Toronto, reiterating the airline’s commitment to North America in addition to its existing year-round services to New York and Miami.

The airline announced today the opening of sales for its 2020 summer season confirming Summer 2019 destination portfolio and providing an opportunity for early planning for both the trade and the public.

In addition to the above routes, all of the current 2019 summer schedule to Africa: Cairo, Dakar, Accra, Lagos and Sharm el-Sheikh are also on sale for 2020.

Air Italy will also be continuing to serve daily multi-frequencies and connections with international flights from Rome, Naples, Palermo, Catania, Lamezia Terme, Cagliari and Olbia,

Air Italy confirms Los Angeles, San Francisco and Toronto for summer 2020

All routes currently in summer season are re-confirmed from March 29th 2020 to October 24th 2020

Air Italy is delighted to announce that on March 29th 2020, will be recommencing its flights to Los Angeles, San Francisco and Toronto, reiterating the airline’s commitment to North America in addition to its existing year-round services to New York and Miami.

The airline announced today the opening of sales for its 2020 summer season confirming Summer 2019 destination portfolio and providing an opportunity for early planning for both the trade and the public.

In addition to the above routes, all of the current 2019 summer schedule to Africa: Cairo, Dakar, Accra, Lagos and Sharm el-Sheikh are also on sale for 2020.

Air Italy will also be continuing to serve daily multi-frequencies and connections with international flights from Rome, Naples, Palermo, Catania, Lamezia Terme, Cagliari and Olbia,

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

Air Italy US passengers can reach Athens via seamless connection in Malpensa. Athens easily reachable via Milan for Air Italy customers from central and southern Italy

Starting from today, 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 travelling from our 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 offers the new Fast Track online service at Milan Malpensa and Linate

In view of the high traffic of tourists due to the holidays, Air Italy wants to get travellers faster to their dream vacation this summer season.

Air Italy has become the first Italian airline to introduce purchasing of the Fast Track service directly on its website, thereby saving passengers even more time at the airport, and making the waiting for their next holiday departure more bearable and comfortable. The initiative comes in time to offer Milanese travellers some relief and a better airport experience when faced with the expected increased traffic at Malpensa airport during the temporary closure of Linate Airport.

Milan-New York better timing and connectivity

Zanzibar and Mombasa new departure time

Air Italy has today loaded its updated winter 2019/20 schedules for its Milan Malpensa-New York route, adding a frequency on Saturday and changing the time of departure, with the key focus being the optimization of its timing and connectivity via its Milan Malpensa hub.

The schedule has been modified to offer even more convenient connections via Milan.

Air Italy ramps up 360 campaign to support GLBT+ communities around the world

This weekend Air Italy is ramping up its 360 campaign to support GLBT+ communities around the world with its Gold Sponsorship of Toronto Pride.

Attracting up to a million spectators and thousands of participants, Toronto Pride is one of the largest and most significant Pride events globally, providing an important forum for addressing LGBT+ issues that are becoming more mainstream globally.

Rossen Dimitrov, Chief Operating Officer of Air Italy, states: “Air Italy clearly stands as an innovative and future-focused company. Our brand pillars consist of values such as inclusion and freedom of choice, and promotion of beauty, with all its differences – and our sponsorship of multiple Pride events including Toronto and Milan allows us to showcase our support for these important issues.

Air Italy Official Carrier and Partner of Milano Pride from June 27 to June 29

Air Italy is delighted to announce its attendance at Milano Pride from June 27 to June 29 as Official Carrier and Platinum Sponsor of this year’s festival.

Chief Operating Officer of Air Italy, Rossen Dimitrov, said: “Air Italy is clear in its focus as an innovative and contemporary airline focused on providing an exemplary customer experience. Inherent within that – and as illustrated through our tagline – Imagine The World Differently – we must support and drive awareness of our core brand values, which include inclusivity and freedom of choice. By promoting the beauty of our differences, Air Italy will continue to Imagine The World Differently.

More new destinations for Air Italy

Guadalajara becomes first destination in Mexico Portland, Seattle, San Diego and others added via connections through Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York

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 start 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.

Air Italy adds 10 new destinations through agreement with Alaska Airlines

Guadalajara becomes first destination in Mexico Portland, Seattle, San Diego and others added via connections through Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York

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 start 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.

Pam Ann, Air Italy Global brand Ambassador, will lead Toronto Pride activities on June 22-23

Air Italy is extremely pleased to announce that its brand Ambassador Pam Ann, the hugely popular and well-known irreverent comedy airline persona of comedienne, Caroline Reid, will lead the Company activities during the Toronto Pride 2019, for which Air Italy is a Gold Sponsor.

During the key weekend of the festival - June 21-23 –, as well as participating in the Parade with a large contingent, Air Italy, as Official European Carrier, will also be presenting sponsor for Pride Toronto 2019’s Street fair, one of the key event locations and activation zones for this year on Church Street, Wood Street, and Wellesley Streets.

Air Italy becomes first European airline to introduce non-binary gender option on bookings

Air Italy is the first airline in Europe to implement and make available  a non-binary gender option for passengers booking flights. Starting from today, customers will be able to select M (male), F (female) or X (other), to correspond with gender-neutral passports that are issued by some States.

Last year, the International Air Transport Association, which represent most of the largest airlines, approved changes to booking procedures to include non-binary gender options. Air Italy is the first European airline to adopt these new set of best-practice standards for carriers.

Air Italy has also added Mx to its online dropdown menu of titles for those who do not wish to define themselves with binary gender options, and is working with Arcigay on other inclusivity initiatives.

The curse of the Olbia public service obligations for Air Italy in Sardinia

Photo Air Italy

The on again - off again public service routes to Olbia operated by Air Italy are now off again as the curse rumbles on and on and on.

Air Italy operates two public service routes to Sardina, one to Olbia from Rome and one from Milan Linate to Olbia. On March 12th, Air Italy offered to fly them without financial compensation from the government. Air Italy didn't gain the first initial phase of the PSO tender but sought to protect its staff of 500 there and the 50 years of service to Sardinia.

Of course, flying these routes without the compensation is a costly affair,  the routes, with more than one airline operating them simply don't attract enough customers to make them independently financially viable. Flying the routes under the terms and conditions as laid down by the Region Sardinia is not financially profitable, and so to ensure mobility and access to Sardinia, the Regione subsidises the routes.

Air Italy revamps its loyalty plan

The tiny European airline that the Big Three US carriers are gunning against, Air Italy has revealed a great new look to its revamped loyalty programme along with its new name, @MyAirItalyClub.

The new moniker – @MyAirItalyClub – is supposed to reflect two key elements, maximum synergy with the new airline brand, and the digital nature of the club’s positioning. Now despite being refreshed, all the regulations, characteristics and benefits of the previous loyalty programme, AVIOS,  accumulation and redemption mechanisms of AVIOS are still the same.

Pam Ann named Global brand Ambassador of Air Italy

Air Italy is extremely pleased to announce the appointment of Pam Ann as a global brand ambassador for the airline.

Pam Ann, the hugely popular and well known irreverent comedy airline persona of comedienne Caroline Reid, has joined Air Italy and will, among other activities, be the star of its upcoming Safety Video.

“Pam Ann is an airline industry legend,” said Rossen Dimitrov, Air Italy Chief Operating Officer, “We are delighted to have her on board. Caroline’s irreverent wit and humour, her cult-following both inside and outside the industry, and her insightful comedy will undoubtedly help us grow our brand and fanbase.

Air Italy launches new service to Toronto

Photo Air Italy

Air Italy has launched a new service on Monday, May 6th to the vibrant Canadian metropolis of Toronto, becoming the airline’s fifth new North American destination served from its Milan Malpensa hub.

Air Italy’s first route to Canada will be operated six times weekly (daily except Thursday) seasonally until October 25th between Milan Malpensa and Toronto, the Capital city of the Province of Ontario. The airline's Airbus A330-200, will operate the route and is configured with 24 fully flatbed seats in Business Class and 228 seats in Economy Class, the new route is the third new service planned for 2019 after the launch of new flights from Milan Malpensa to Los Angeles and San Francisco on April 3 and April 10 respectively.

Speaking at the inaugural celebrations at Malpensa, Air Italy Chief Operating Officer, Rossen Dimitrov, said: “Toronto is an extremely welcome addition to the Air Italy route map and clearly reflects the importance of the North American market to us. There is enormous potential in extending our reach to Canada, thanks to its economic relevance, strong global relations and very large Italian expatriate community.

Winter schedule 2019/20 released by Air Italy.

Milan                                 Photo Air Italy

Air Italy has released its winter 2019/20 schedule this week which sees the airline focus on the optimisation of its routes via its Milan Malpensa hub.  The new schedule has been modified to offer even more convenient connections via Milan and to serve point-to-point traffic with optimised daily frequencies between Malpensa and Rome, Naples, Palermo, Catania, Lamezia Terme and Cagliari.

To enhance Air Italy's 2019-20 winter schedule, which includes 112 weekly domestic flights via Milan Malpensa, aircraft will now be stationed in domestic outstations overnight to allow for early morning flights into Milan, thereby providing optimum timing both for travel to Milan as well as onward travel with Air Italy.

Air Italy pulling out of PSO routes from Sardinia

Photo Air Italy

Air Italy, has reluctantly decided it will have to pull away from the 'Public Service Obligation routes from Sardnina it announced on Tuesday 16th April.  The news follows a meeting with President Solinas held in Villa Devoto in the presence of a delegation from Air Italy and Alitalia, however, the proposal given to the airlines was unsustainable according to Air Italy.

Air Italy has stated on several occasions that it is not able to share routes from Olbia with Alitalia, the routes just don't attract enough passengers to break even for two airlines. On 12th March, Air Italy agreed to fly from Olbia to Rome and from Olbia to Linate (and vice versa), without financial compensation from the government, to protect its staff of over 500 people and the investment made over the last 50 years in the service of Sardinia. Unfortunately, the proposed solution would not guarantee these objectives and would result in an even more negative result than that already envisaged in the proposed no-compensation solution.  Therefore, having both Alitalia and Air Italy on the routes will make them untenable.

Air Italy issues a statement on the Delta, United and American Airlines allegations

The largest US carriers (and their alliance partners) control about 90% of all transatlantic traffic.

As sanctions and route restrictions being placed on Qatar Airways and Air Italy imposed by the US become a strong possibility, the Italian airline Air Italy wants to set the record straight, it issued the following statement on Thursday 19th April.

Qatar Airways hits back over false Air Italy investment claims

The Doha based Qatar Airways has hit back at recent US media speculation and political assertions that it is acting improperly over its investment in Air Italy.

Qatar Airways owns 49% of Air Italy's parent company AQA, the same amount that US mega-carrier Delta hold in Virgin and Aeromexico. It is also the same level of investment fellow gulf carrier Emirates held in Alitalia.

The national carrier of Qatar wanted to set the record straight after the recent false accusations relating to its shareholding in Air Italy. Qatar Airways’ investment in Air Italy, and operations to the United States, are fully compliant with the U.S.-Qatar Open Skies Agreement, the January 2018 U.S.-Qatar Understandings, and a side letter that accompanied the discussions.