Alitalia announces new “Smart Carrier” flights from Malpensa

The Alitalia Group, comprising the Alitalia and Air One brands, has announced a three-year development plan, including “Smart Carrier” Air One flights from Milan Malpensa, and a new route from Milan to Miami. Italian carriers Alitalia and Air One merged at the end of 2008, and the combined Alitalia group has now announced plans to double passenger traffic at Milan Malpensa over the next three years, through the introduction of Air One flights from the airport. Air One has in the past operated out of Milan Linate, Milan’s equivalent of London City airport located around five miles from the city centre. But from March 28 it will switch its hub to Malpensa, offering flights to 14 Italian and Mediterranenan destinations including new international routes to Palma and Ibiza, and several new routes within Italy. There are also plans to add ten new international services in 2011, including Munich, Warsaw, Budapest, Istanbul and Sofia. Alitalia says that the new Air One offering will be operate under a “Smart Carrier” model, which it says differs from other low-cost carriers as it will continue to offer traditional benefits including free seat assignment, checked baggage and frequent flyer miles within the MilleMiglia scheme. Alitalia will also commence flights from Malpensa to Miami this summer, using new A330 aircraft featuring a revamped Magnifica (business class) cabin with “the latest generation fold-flat seats”. Despite plans to increase passenger traffic at Malpensa the group says that Linate airport will continue to serve as “the City Airport of Milan offering short and medium haul flights to domestic and European destinations for a clientele with a high percentage of business passengers”. For more information visit alitalia.com. Report by Mark Caswell