Italy's Meridiana (49% owned by Qatar) expects to fly transatlantic in 2018

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  • Alex McWhirter
    Participant

    French media reporting this evening that Meridiana’s first long-haul routes will be from Milan MXP to New York JFK and Miami. Services to start in 2018 with Airbus A330-200s,

    Miami is the main Italian business airport and at MXP Meridiana will not only be competing with Alitalia and the US carriers but also with the Emirates’ A380 service.*

    MXP is also the nearest long-haul gateway to Swiss Ticino and its affluent residents.

    Business Traveller will provide more details as and when available.

    * Originally the Italian government sought to ban Emirates from operating Milan-New York on a fifth-freedom basis. But it lost its case.

    Italian court orders Emirates to cancel Milan-New York route


    transtraxman
    Participant

    Your post is a little misleading since it implies these transatlantic flights will be totally new.
    Meridiana already flies to New York, Miami, Havana and Brazil from Naples, Rome and Palermo.From Milan Malpensa it flies to a selectiobn of long distance destinations including Miami and New York. This is in addition to other intercontinental flights to Africa (Accra, Dakar, Lagos, Mombasa, Zanzibar, Mauritius)from various hubs. The network is extensive which is why Meridiana is such an appetising morsel. All the information is taken from today´s website.


    Alex McWhirter
    Participant

    transtraxman – Thank you for your comments. On reflection maybe I ought to have changed the headline.

    I should point out that the US routes mentioned are operated mainly for holiday makers and VFR passengers. Reservations are only possible provided you buy a return ticket.

    The flight frequency is poor (sometimes once a week or once a month right now !) and services may be seasonal. Clearly they are not intended for business travellers.

    With these two new routes starting in 2018 (daily to JFK and four times a week to MIA) Meridiana would, I hope, aim to be a serious competitor to the existing five airlines flying Milan-New York. (United flies into New York Newark while Alitalia/American/Delta/Emirates serve JFK).

    Meridiana will be using A330s from Qatar Airways. One would expect it to provide high standards to business and leisure travellers alike.


    LuganoPirate
    Participant

    I came across this recent review of a Business Class flight from Naples to JFK with Meridiana.
    Perhaps with Qatar they will have a full and up to date Business Class product.

    Review: Meridiana Business Class 767 Naples To New York


    Alex McWhirter
    Participant

    Here’s our piece today. It’s believed Meridiana will announce a new business plan early in 2018.

    Meridiana to operate regular transatlantic flights


    AMcWhirter
    Participant

    QR’s CEO Al Baker has big plans for Meridiana.

    Speaking at today’s Kuwait Airshow the CEO says plans are in hand for Meridiana to receive a number of B787s from QR.

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