Addio Air Italy – Airline suspends operations

It seems that another airline can’t make Italy work, with Air Italy facing the axe.

Air Italy Airbus A330 arriving at Chicago O’Hare- Image, Economy Class and Beyond

This comes after a meeting of the airlines shareholders (Alisarda and Qatar Airways through AQA Holding spa) which decided the “liquidazione in bonis” of the company – in effect liquidating it.

Practical upshots

Flights between the 11th February to the 25th February inclusive will operate, however,  they will have their flights operated by another carrier.

Passengers travelling after the 25 February 2020 will be re-protected or fully refunded.

The airline cites specific examples:

– All scheduled flights (outward or return) up to and including 25 February 2020 (including the first departures on the morning of 26 February 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 25 February 2020 and to return after 25 February 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.

Full details are below, or at what remains of airitaly.com

Qatar Airways is attempting to play a defensive role, with the airline wanting to invest in it, with the participation of its other shareholder. In a statement, the airline says:

Since the acquisition on 28 September 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.

Another Italian Mess.

It seems that any airline trying to set up an operation in Italy will end in pain (hands up those of you who remember Lufthansa Italia?), with Air Italy going to the wall this time.

The airline has five Airbus A330, four Boeing 737-800, one Boeing 737-700  and three Boeing 737 MAX aircraft on the ground.

Air Italy’s history can be traced back to Alisarda when it merged with Universair to form Meridiana. In that time, it took on eurofly before Qatar Airways took a 49% minority ownership in the airline.

There were high hopes in 2018 when this partnership took hold to create a challenger to incumbent Alitalia.

But what’s worst – they had a chance to take on Alitalia and do some damage to the ailing carrier that’s perpetually in the red or being recused by the Italian Government (and where Etihad lost a LOT of money) and failed to press home the advantage.

But to lose to Altalia… That’s not a point of pride for anyone to bear.

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