“In Italy, there is a general underestimation of the positive effects that air transport and the airport system have on...
This event will bring together decision-makers from airlines, airports, and tourism authorities.More than 125 airlines will be present to develop recovery strategies.High-profile speakers include Wizz Air CEO; Ryanair Director of Commercial; Flair CCO; Discover Puerto Rico CEO; Gibraltar Minister for Business, Tourism, Transport and the Port; ACI World Director General; and ITA CEO.
With millions of jobs and national economies dependent on a strong restart of the air transport sector, this event will bring together decision-makers from airlines, airports, and tourism authorities in Milan this week from October 10-22 to rebuild global air connectivity.
More than 125 airlines will be present in Milan to develop recovery strategies including Air Canada, Air China, Air France, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, easyJet, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Iberia Airlines, International Airlines Group, Jet2.com, JetBlue, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Wizz Air.
High-profile speakers include Jozsef Varadi, Chief Executive Officer of Wizz Air; Jason McGuinness, director of commercial of Ryanair; Garth Lund, CCO of Flair; Brad Dean, CEO of Discover Puerto Rico; Vijay Daryanani, Minister for Business, Tourism, Transport and the Port of the Government of Gibraltar; Luis Felipe de Oliveira, Director General of ACI World and Fabio Lazzerini, CEO of ITA.
Hosted by SEA Milan Airports, in partnership with the Lombardy Region, the Municipality of Milan, ENIT – Italian Tourist Board and Bergamo Airport, the event will deliver long-term growth opportunities for the city and wider region. Air transport’s contribution to the Italian economy is significant, supporting 714,000 jobs and contributing €46 billion to the economy – accounting for roughly 2.7% of Italy’s GDP in 2019. Following the impact of COVID-19, the positive catalytic effects of air connectivity in increasing trade, tourism, investment, labor supply, and market efficiency will be more important than ever in helping Italy to rebuild its economy.
Steven Small, director of Routes, said: “Our role has, and will always be, to bring together the world’s airlines, airports, tourism authorities, and route development stakeholders to build air services for the economic and social good of every destination.”
“By delivering a platform where these stakeholders can meet, World Routes will define the recovery of an industry profoundly impacted by COVID-19. The route development industry is about building relationships that create effective partnerships and successful networks. And it is those partnerships that this event will support. The innovation, resilience and cooperation demonstrated by the route development community throughout this unprecedented period will continue to be paramount in its road to recovery. By working together, we can accelerate the recovery and build back better.”
Armando Brunini, CEO of SEA Milan Airports, said: “World Routes is an important appointment for our Industry, we can’t wait to meet in person once again with delegates from all over the world to share views on the future of the aviation industry and, of course, do business! In the next years, airlines need to select a network where there is a critical mass of passengers, which is important. And Milan offers this critical mass. Our goal is recovery of connectivity and traffic volumes. We need to work hard with all stakeholders involved to create the right preconditions for a proper restart especially of long-haul traffic with our priorities being America and Asia and first results already arriving. The city of Milan is bouncing back to its usual vibrant and dynamic mood, so we believe to be well placed to be at the forefront of recovery. Milan and Lombardy are the venues of major international events, one of Europe’s recognized centers for finance and business, and an extremely enjoyable city. The region surrounding Milan was the first in the western world to be hit by this devastating pandemic and we are glad that the first post-COVID World Routes event happens here to symbolically support the relaunch of aviation.”
#rebuildingtravel
What are the options for these customers and what happens to their tickets that they already paid for?Customers will be given the option to replace their flight(s) with another equivalent managed by the Alitalia company by October 14, 2021.It will also be possible for customers to receive a full refund of their ticket(s).
After obtaining an operating license and an aircraft operator certificate from ENAC, the Italian Civil Aviation Authority on August 18, ITA airline (Italia Trasporto Aereo), formerly known as Alitalia, is prepared for official take-off. ITA will open ticket sales starting from August 26.
Binding offer okayed for Alitalia flight assets
The ITA Board, which met under the chairmanship of Alfredo Altavilla, resolved to transform the non-binding offer already sent on August 16 to the Extraordinary Administration of Alitalia into binding. This offering includes 52 aircraft, a related number of slots, as well as contracts and ancillary assets from the Aviation branch to commence operations on October 15.
Who will be manning customer service?
The operator of the new ITA customer center will be Covisian which uses cloud technologies in collaboration with partners such as Salesforce and Amazon Web.
In addition, from August 26, the site for the collection of applications from people interested in working with ITA will become operational. This will be followed by a meeting with the trade unions to start negotiations on the new employment contract.
ITA to evaluate current employees for jobs
ITA will start its operations with 2,800 employees. It can be read in the communication sent by the company to the trade unions in view of the start of the confrontation. The workforce “initially necessary for the start-up of the activities” is “equal, according to the Business Plan, to 2,800 employees” explained ITA, who says it is “available” to compose the workforce” also evaluating any candidates for employment presented by current Alitalia Sai employees.”
The Business Plan provides that the company can “subsequently increase the initial staff” until “reaching the total maximum number of approximately 5,750 employees by 2025. Meanwhile, ITA announced that all employees will be requested to obtain the anti-COVID Green Pass.
Identification of strategic aircraft supplier
ITA reiterated its decision to make its fleet homogeneous over the course of the industrial plan and, to this end, to start the process of renewing the starting fleet as soon as possible, replacing it with a new generation of more efficient and environmental-friendly aircraft.
The decision on the composition of the future fleet will be taken and communicated by September. ITA is also launching a new loyalty program “at the forefront in the quality of services offered to the customer, potentially integrable with those of other industrial partners” given that European regulations prevent the new company from being able to compete for the acquisition of the Alitalia MilleMiglia program.
#rebuildingtravel
According to ENAC, these low-cost airlines are continuing to charge extra to those traveling with children or the disabled.An emergency measure went into effect on August 15, 2021, preventing a supplemental charge for seats to be together.EasyJet has immediately responded stating that the accusation and fine is unfounded.
Low-cost airlines, according to ENAC, are guilty of “continuing to charge supplements for the allocation of seats close to carers of minors and the disabled.”
“From the first checks carried out,” ENAC noted, these companies “have defaulted: they have not yet, as prescribed and confirmed by the administrative judge, changed the IT and operating systems, and at the time of bookings, they continue to request a supplement to the cost of the air ticket for the assignment of seats close to the carers of minors and disabled people, except, if necessary, reimbursement.”
For this reason, the Authority “has started the procedure to impose sanctions” against the 3 carriers. The fines – as reported by Corriere della Sera – will be “commensurate with the non-fulfillment” and “can range from a minimum of 10,000 euros to a maximum of 50,000 for each single dispute.”
The free allocation of seats to minors and people with reduced mobility close to their parents and/or carers is guaranteed by an emergency measure issued by ENAC and has been in force since August 15, 2021.
EasyJet immediately replied with a statement, affirming “that it has acted in full compliance with the regulations in force and that the initiation of the procedure to impose the sanction is totally unfounded.”
The company, he recalls, “allocates seats for families jointly, which means that children under 12 and people with reduced mobility are seated next to an accompanying adult at no additional cost.”
The authorities imposed the elimination of the surcharge for these passengers on July 17, 2021. Then the TAR postponed the entry into force of the measure until after August 15. Now the deadline has passed, but those who ask to have a seat next to a minor or disabled person accompanying them are still being charged for the supplement.
Due to the worsening COVID situation in India, travelers arriving at Fuimicino Airport in Rome were subjected to new health measures.In addition to temperature and swab tests, passengers were sent straight to quarantine centers.Before being released from the centers, passengers must pass another COVID test with a negative reading.
The health and help system at Fiumicino airport were meticulous as the 214 passengers from India who arrived at 9:30 pm on Air India’s Boeing 787 disembarked. The health personnel measured the temperature of each of the travelers and directed them to a dedicated room at Terminal 5. The airport personnel then carried out the first antigenic swabs at the health stations that were set up immediately upon the plane’s arrival.
All 350 passengers’ bags were sanitized, and there were 9 Red Cross vehicles waiting, including 3 coaches and 6 ambulances, as well as 3 coaches and 3 other smaller army vehicles. The vehicles will take the passengers to 2 facilities in the capital for swab tests and further checks on the possible presence of cases of the India variant of the coronavirus, according to National Civil Protection sources.
In particular, 50 will go to the military citadel of Cecchignola, while the others will go to a COVID-designated hotel. The personnel handling the India passengers held a coordination meeting on the subject with the Lazio Regional Civil Protection.
According to the Italian government decree signed on the evening of October 9 by the four ministers of Economy, Transport, Economic Development, and Labor, the company statute, annexed to the decree, confirms that the Alitalia name will no longer exist. The new company, Italia Trasporto Aereo SpA, will be based “in the Municipality of Rome,” […]
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Flights also to Cagliari and Venice in Italy
Overall there will be 27 new routes for a total of 85 flights per week, when 13 countries across Europe will be connected to the airport. In detail, the new entries are: Banja Luka, Cagliari, Chania, Dublin, Faro, Girona, Ibiza, Lviv, Madeira, Sofia, Tallinn, Valencia, and Venice.
With the addition of over 560 new routes and the opening of 16 new bases in 2021, Ryanair is aiming for even greater growth next summer with 65 new B737-8200 “Gamechanger” aircraft, offering 4% increase of seats and guaranteeing the reduction of Co2 emissions by 16% and noise emissions by 40%.
Ryanair is doubling its schedule, rebuilding tourism, and creating high-paying jobs in Germany with no aid from the state.
“We are delighted to invest in Nuremberg airport at a time when the German government is abandoning its regional airports in favor of traditional airlines and large airports,” commented Ryanair CEO Eddie Wilson. The opening of our new base in Nuremberg features 13 new routes – 27 in total – and will provide greater connectivity, driving tourism and growth for the region as it recovers from the pandemic.
“The $200 million investment will not only stimulate the German economy by driving vital tourism, but will also create more than 60 direct jobs and nearly 1,000 jobs in the region. At a time when Lufthansa is shrinking its fleet, cutting jobs, and closing routes while wasting €9 billion of taxpayer money on state aid, Ryanair is doubling its schedule for summer 2022 in Nuremberg by rebuilding tourism and creating high-paying jobs in Germany with zero state aid.”
#Ryanair
The tender could last several weeks, because the first binding offers must be submitted by October 4 at 2 pm, at the minimum price of 290 million euros (plus VAT).But no carrier seems interested in buying the brand at this stage.“The valuation is unrealistic,” said Alfredo Altavilla, President of ITA, the new airline, which is probably the company most interested in the brand of the old company.
Base Price 290 Million
To make an offer at this stage, it requires a down payment of 40 million euro. Only persons with an air transport license or AOC (Air Operator Certificate) and a net worth of at least 200 million can join the binding.
If there are no offers equal to at least the base price, the commissioners will open a second round of binding offers.
The call for tenders, named “invitation,” provides for a second phase if there are no suitable offers in the first phase. In this case, the commissioners “will carry out the second phase of the award with the request to all the admitted subjects to present binding offers also in reduction with respect to the offered price.”
It was not said what the base price for the second round would be. The brand has a book value of 150 million in Alitalia’s financial statements. Therefore it is unlikely that it will fall below this figure.
Third Round: Discretionary Choice of Commissioners
If in the first as in the second phase there were more offers, it would next go to the raises, starting from the best offer, for an amount “not less than 10 million euros.” If the second round is also unsatisfactory, the procedure will be changed. “The extraordinary commissioners will then proceed with the sale of the brand without procedural constraints towards the economic operator they have identified,” said the announcement.
For the third round, there would, therefore, be discretion of the commissioners. In this phase, ITA could enter, which aims to buy the brand but without fainting.
“The brand will be made available to the successful bidder by December 31, 2021,” says the invitation published by the commissioners.
Communication of the Commissioners
For the 10,500 workers of Alitalia, there is, therefore, a long wait to get the balance of their salary for September. And it is not assured that in the end there is money. In an internal communication, the commissioners Gabriele Fava, Giuseppe Leogrande, and Daniele Santosuosso wrote to the employees:
“As you know, our activities included in the aviation branch are expected to end on October 14, and, therefore, we are forced to manage the company’s finance consistently with this target, taking into account that the closure of sales on August 24 generated a substantial stop in revenues.
“We are very sorry to have to inform you that the salaries of the current month will be adjusted at 50% with value on Monday, September 27, while the remaining 50% will be credited to you as soon as we have evidence of the outcome of the brand announcement, as required by the European Commission.”
In fact, the law provides that the sums deriving from the sale of assets are used as a priority to support current costs, primarily salaries.
According to ENAC, these low-cost airlines are continuing to charge extra to those traveling with children or the disabled.An emergency measure went into effect on August 15, 2021, preventing a supplemental charge for seats to be together.EasyJet has immediately responded stating that the accusation and fine is unfounded.
Low-cost airlines, according to ENAC, are guilty of “continuing to charge supplements for the allocation of seats close to carers of minors and the disabled.”
“From the first checks carried out,” ENAC noted, these companies “have defaulted: they have not yet, as prescribed and confirmed by the administrative judge, changed the IT and operating systems, and at the time of bookings, they continue to request a supplement to the cost of the air ticket for the assignment of seats close to the carers of minors and disabled people, except, if necessary, reimbursement.”
For this reason, the Authority “has started the procedure to impose sanctions” against the 3 carriers. The fines – as reported by Corriere della Sera – will be “commensurate with the non-fulfillment” and “can range from a minimum of 10,000 euros to a maximum of 50,000 for each single dispute.”
The free allocation of seats to minors and people with reduced mobility close to their parents and/or carers is guaranteed by an emergency measure issued by ENAC and has been in force since August 15, 2021.
EasyJet immediately replied with a statement, affirming “that it has acted in full compliance with the regulations in force and that the initiation of the procedure to impose the sanction is totally unfounded.”
The company, he recalls, “allocates seats for families jointly, which means that children under 12 and people with reduced mobility are seated next to an accompanying adult at no additional cost.”
The authorities imposed the elimination of the surcharge for these passengers on July 17, 2021. Then the TAR postponed the entry into force of the measure until after August 15. Now the deadline has passed, but those who ask to have a seat next to a minor or disabled person accompanying them are still being charged for the supplement.
The CEO of the new airline, Fabio Lazzerini, confirmed at a press conference that the airline will grow to 78 aircraft in 2022.This increase will bring in 26 more aircraft of which 6 will be wide body and 20 narrow body.What will happen to Alitalia loyalty rewards when the new national airline takes off?
Said Lazzerini: “From 2022, we expect to begin the introduction of the new generation aircraft in the fleet, which will progressively replace the old technology aircraft. At the end of 2025, the fleet will grow to 105 (23 wide body and 82 narrow body), with 81 new generation aircraft (equal to 77 percent of the total fleet) which will allow – in the intentions of the newco – to significantly reduce the impact environment and optimize the efficiency and quality of the offer.”
THE LOYALTY CARD
ITA says goodbye to the Alitalia MilleMiglia – What happens to the points on the Alitalia card?
The loyalty card switch from Alitalia to ITA is planned for mid-October when Alitalia stops flying and the new ITA (Italy Air Transport) begins, which will leave only 52 aircraft. According to the new CEO, this is enough to “compete.” He said that while it is true that the other companies have larger fleets, “how many planes do they actually fly now?” Says Lazzerini, given the COVID crisis, there are few.
Lazzerini explained: “To avoid spending all the Italian government money, we have chosen a gradual approach linked to the volumes of traffic expected in the coming months. If the variants do not lead to new closures, the company will increase the number of aircraft [to 78 in 2022] in step with the increase in traffic.”
What happens to Alitalia’s MilleMiglia card?
The European Commission decided that Alitalia Loyalty, the company that manages the loyalty program of the Italian company “MilleMiglia,” must be sold to the highest bidder through a public tender, transparent and open to all interested parties. But ITA, the new state airline, will not be able to participate in this tender as a sign of discontinuity between the 2 companies. The MilleMiglia cards in circulation will thus end up with a new owner who is not yet known and who could also operate in an area other than the aviation sector.
What happens from October 15, 2021?
The buyer of the loyalty program will decide how to use the prize pool of miles that the members (about 5 million) have accumulated. Since these miles are a debt for those who manage the program, it will be necessary to see how it will be “repaid.” If the new owner of Loyalty were to be, for example, a supermarket brand, it could convert those miles into shopping vouchers, Lazzerini stated.
From Delta Air Lines to EasyJet to Lufthansa Airline, interest in the procurement of Alitalia Airline has gone through several potential transformations since 2017.
Continue reading Alitalia: the Lufthansa hypothesis returns at eTurboNews | Trends | Travel News Online.
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