[Tramor01]

Hi Sparkyflier – I was applying for a status match against BA Gold.

[transtraxman]

ITA is having to face up to new competition in its efforts to make a mark for itself.

“Another Startup: Italy’s Aeroitalia Is Launched,” (Simple Flying 27-4-22)
Aeroitalia obtained its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) on April 22nd, 2022 and will fly from Forlí,.. “an airport in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, near the Italian Riviera. The airport has few scheduled flights and services a wide catchment area including Remini, Bologna, Ravenna, and the Most Serene Republic of San Marino,…” Boeing 737-800s will be used.
“Fellow startup Lumiwings is commencing operations from Forlì this year with links to Palermo (PMO), Catania (CTA), and Parma (PMF).”
The airport lists London and Paris as soon to be inaugurated destinations, but nothing is concrete as yet.

https://simpleflying.com/aeroitalia-italian-startup-airline/

“German Efromovich: Who Is Startup Aeroitalia’s Non-Executive President?”(Simple Flying 28-4-22)
“The Board of Directors of Aeroitalia is composed of German Efromovich as the non-executive president, Marc Bourgade, a French banker as the chairman, and Gaetano Intrieri as the CEO.”

https://simpleflying.com/german-efromovich-aeroitalia-non-executive-president/

[AMcWhirter]

First photos of the A350’s interior cabin

Business is 1-2-1. Economy is 3-3-3. No premium economy.

ITA’s A350 will operate from June 2022. Initial routes are from Rome to Los Angeles, Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo.

Premières photos de la cabine de l'#a350 d'ITA Airways 🇮🇹
Business en 1-2-1
Economy 3-3-3
📷 credit Luca Bianchi #Italy #ITAairways #Airbus pic.twitter.com/vlrlhKtz1a

— Gate 7 (@Gate7tweet) May 12, 2022

[AMcWhirter]

ITA Airways has ordered nine A321neos.

That we already know.

But what is new as reported from Germany is that some of these will be the long-haul variant.

Aerotelegraph reports that the A321LR (if fitted with additional fuel tanks) would have a range of up to 7,400 kms.

The first A321neo will be delivered in 2023.

ITA Airways bekommt ab 2023 Airbus A321 LR

[AMcWhirter]

Alitalia used to provide designer uniforms for its crew.

And ITA is no exception.

ITA Airways va adopter de nouveaux uniformes conçus par styliste Brunello Cucinelli partir du 1er juin .🇮🇹✈️🧑‍✈️@ITAAirways #ITAairways #airlines #fashion #uniform pic.twitter.com/sJP8fJFzgf

— Gate 7 (@Gate7tweet) May 31, 2022

[sparkyflier]

It seems that the Italian Gov has chosen the party including DL & AF/KL is shareholders in ITA, choosing them over the LH/MSC bid.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-31/italy-picks-certares-delta-air-france-klm-for-ita-airways-l7hc8k8o

I was rather hoping LH would get them as I thought Delta might do a status match if ITA switched to a competing alliance.

1 user thanked author for this post.

transtraxman

[transtraxman]

“Rome chooses Certares for exclusive ITA Airways talks”, (31-8-22, ch-aviation)
This article confirms what Sparkyflier stated in the previous post, with Delta, AF-KLM winning the bid.

https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/118976-rome-chooses-certares-for-exclusive-ita-airways-talks

[AMcWhirter]

ITA wants to be sustainable as do other carriers.

New A220 will enter service on October 16.

It carries the banner “Born to be Sustainable.”

Il nuovo @Airbus A220 «Born To Be Sustainable» è a Roma Fiumicino ed entrerà in operativo il 16/10. Si tratta del più efficiente aeromobile della sua categoria, e consentirà una riduzione del 25% dei consumi e delle emissioni di CO2 rispetto alla precedente generazione.#A220 pic.twitter.com/AS40Xa5O7j

— ITA Airways Risponde (@ITAAirways) October 11, 2022

[transtraxman]

“Sale of ITA Airways: Italian government ends exclusive negotiations with Certares, Air France-KLM and Delta,” (2-11-22, Aviation24.be)

Sale of ITA Airways: Italian government ends exclusive negotiations with Certares, Air France-KLM and Delta

………….so the sale is now open again to any interested party…..principally meaning Lufthansa with MSC.

1 user thanked author for this post.

sparkyflier

[AMcWhirter]

Losses at ITA Airways continue.

This morning @luchtvaart [NL] reports that the Italian govt is providing an addition Euros 400 million in aid.

https://www.luchtvaartnieuws.nl/nieuws/categorie/2/airlines/ita-airways-krijgt-nog-eens-400-miljoen-euro-van-de-regering-in-rome

[transtraxman]

MSC drops out of the bidding for ITA leaving Lufthansa on its own. But now it looks like Lufthansa has found a new minor partner in Italian railways(Ferrovie dello Stato) (FS). This seems a good deal for the Italian Nationalist right-wing Government.
With Lufthansa at 51%, FS at 29% and the Italian government retaining 20% the arrangement seems satisfactory for Italian interests.
However, the process is not over as yet since other interested parties could still put in bids. Let us wait and see.
“Rome mulls sale of ITA Airways to Lufthansa and rail company”, (28-11-22, ch-aviation)

https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/121946-rome-mulls-sale-of-ita-airways-to-lufthansa-and-rail-company

[AMcWhirter]

Apparently a report in La Repubblica says that Lufthansa now says it doesn’t want FS onboard.

Should Lufthansa eventually acquire ITA Airways it would join Star Alliance.

Aerotelegraph [DE]

Lufthansa will offenbar Staatsbahn bei ITA Airways nicht an Bord haben

[rferguson]

ITA is my favourite airline – although I have never flown them 🙂

They originally status matched my BA Gold card. Then extended it with COVID. I just received an email from them today titled ‘we have a gift for you’. With a FURTHER extension of the Gold-esque benefits until Dec 31 2023. As a member of Skyteam this is invaluable. Thanks ITA!

2 users thanked author for this post.

LuganoPirate, Tom Otley

[transtraxman]

BT has presented us today with a piece of news concerning the future of ITA which has been up in the air for some time….
“Lufthansa bids for stake in ITA Airways,”

This follows on from other droplets earlier….
“Lufthansa Group might acquire up to 40% of ITA Airways,” (9-1-22, Aviation24.be)

The latest news suggests that Lufthansa has dropped its plans to bid with MSC and go it alone — firstly acquiring a small stake in ITA building up to complete ownership.
“….the initial acquisition of a minority stake as well as on options to purchase the remaining shares at a later date”.
This is a radical change from the initial idea of The Italian State maintaining a majority share of ITA with Lufthansa in a minority.
“Lufthansa submits offer to acquire a stake in ITA”, (18-01-23, Aviation24.be)

Lufthansa submits offer to acquire a stake in ITA

We shall see what happens.

[DavidSmith2]

[postquote quote=1325065]

I’d been keen to know how you engaged on a status match although I probably missed that boat a long time ago. As far as I can see, they only seem to have a phone number to contact them, but an extended call from Ghana would probably cost more than it would be worth.

[Author]

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