Israir to launch Skopje service

GLOBAL AVIATION NEWS

Alitalia brand on sale

ITA will start flying on October 15 as Italy's new flag carrier, replacing a bankrupt Alitalia, but hardly anyone has heard of it. That's not the case for Alitalia - a storied brand, albeit tarnished by years of labour troubles, inefficiency and serial bankruptcies. Which is why the head of ITA Fabio Lazzerini (a former Alitalia man) plans to buy the brand in a tender the Italian government announced last week. ITA will be flying the old airline's aircraft, using many of its slots in Milan and Rome, and be staffed by the slimmed-down remnants of the old carrier's workforce. That's not the way ITA is being spun by Brussels and Rome. The European Commission determined last week that ITA and Alitalia are separate entities - so-called economic discontinuity. As a result, the new company is not liable for €900 million in illegal state aid received by its predecessor, which also allows Rome to inject €1.35 billion of fresh money into the new company. Just a few weeks before its maiden flight, search engine results for “ITA” bring up everything from the Italian Trade Agency to Amsterdam’s International Theatre. That makes the Alitalia brand crucial for the new company. ITA chief Lazzerini said he’d “do everything” to win the auction, which starts at €290 million. Only Ryanair publicly showed any interest - which it has since withdrawn. Industry figures say there’s been little appetite among competitors for the troubled brand, although reports say Italian ministerial officials are expecting some interest. Only companies “having a net worth … of not less than €200 million and holding air transport operating licenses or air operator certifications” are allowed to bid.
Politico

Israir to launch Skopje service

NEWS FLASH

Israir Airlines will commence seasonal flights between Tel Aviv and Skopje this summer, following talks between Israeli and Macedonian authorities late last year. The carrier will operate two weekly services between the two cities each Thursday and Sunday starting June 11. According to “Routes Online”, flights will be maintained with the 180-seat Airbus A320 aircraft. The carrier has been successfully serving nearby markets including Montenegro, Serbia and Albania for several years. Israir is Israel’s third largest airline behind El Al and Arkia. Further flight details for the new Tel Aviv - Skopje service can be found here.

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Anonymous10:38
finally
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Anonymous12:05
Legacy carrier coming, finally!!!
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Anonymous16:43
I saw quite a few Israeli tourists in and around Skopje last year, so there is obviously a good market potential here.
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paul23109:55
Skopje as an ideal cityscape destination is a treasured . . . Secret !
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Anonymous10:52
Arkia is doing fine in Ohrid so this is a nice add on
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Unknown20:38
Great news
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Israir to launch Skopje service

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