Alitalia plans tie-up with Blue Panorama, Wind Jet

Alitalia (AZ) is proceeding with plans to merge with two smaller Italian competitors, Blue Panorama Airlines (BV) and Wind Jet (IV).

The AZ board, which signed a memorandum of understanding with the two carriers, said the “project of integration” is “coherent with the ongoing consolidation processes into the air transport, at national and international level.” It said the carriers have “synergy potentials and are complementary with regard to product specialization, network design and served market segments.” 

Alitalia Group last year carried around 25 million passengers using a fleet of 144 aircraft. It has bases in Rome, Milan, Turin, Venice, Bari and Catania.

BV, which launched operations in 1998, carried some 2 million passengers in 2011 with a fleet of seven Boeing 737-300/400s, two 757-200s and four 767-300ERs, according to its website. Intercontinental flights are operated under the BV brand; short- and medium-haul flights are operated as Blu-Express. It has bases in Rome Fiumicino and Milan Malpensa. BV signed an order for 12 Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft at the Paris Air Show in June 2011. Deliveries are scheduled to start at the end of 2012.

IV, established in 2003, is a LCC that operates domestic and European routes using five Airbus A319-100s and seven A320-200s. It handled more than 2.8 million passengers in 2011 and has a 6.2% domestic market share, according to an AZ statement. It has bases in Catania, Palermo and Rimini.

AZ will submit merger documents to antitrust authorities.

Article Source : ATW Daily News