Chinese PM hints at Sarajevo flights

GLOBAL AVIATION NEWS

EU okays Alitalia successor

EU competition regulators have given the green light to a slimmed down successor to Alitalia and said the new state-owned airline was not liable for repaying 900 million euros in illegal state aid received by its predecessor. The approval of Italia Trasporto Aereo (ITA) will be greeted with relief in Rome, which has been negotiating for months to prevent the decision on the 900 million euros of loans from hindering the launch of the new airline. Alitalia is unlikely to repay that aid, plus interest, as the carrier's coffers are empty and money it may collect from the sale of assets is not expected to be enough. ITA will operate with less than half of Alitalia's fleet of aircraft and will only be allowed to take over limited parts of its predecessor's handling and maintenance businesses. Alitalia's brand and its loyalty programme will be sold in an open tender, said the European Commission, which oversees the EU's competition policy. The new carrier is due to start flying in place of Alitalia on October 15 and plans to employ only a small part of its predecessor's 11.000 total workforce under a new, less generous labour contract. The uncertainty over the future of thousands of workers has sparked protests. The Italian government has set aside a total of 3 billion euros for ITA, but the Commission only gave a green light to an initial 1.35 billion euros capital injection by Rome into the carrier over the next three years.
Reuters

Chinese PM hints at Sarajevo flights

NEWS FLASH

The Chinese Prime Minister, Li Keqiang, has said that talks over the establishment of flights between Beijing and Sarajevo are in full motion. The announcement came following talks between Mr Li and Bosnia and Herzegovina's Council of Ministers Chairman, Denis Zvizdić. at the sidelines of the CEEC - China 16+1 Summit in Sofia last week. The talks were attended by Bosnia’s Minister for Transport and Communications, Ismir Jusko. Mr Jusko noted last month that a Beijing - Belgrade - Sarajevo service is likely following talks with the Chinese Ambassador to Bosnia, Chen Bo. The Minister said the two sides are expected to sign a bilateral Air Service Agreement which would provide the legal framework for the establishment of flights. Ambassador Bo emphasised the tourism potential of Bosnia and noted that the number of visitors from China to the country increased between 130% and 140% in 2017 compared to the year before. The two countries abolished visa requirements for each others' nationals in late May of this year. Hainan Airlines currently maintains a two weekly service between Beijing and Belgrade via Prague.

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