Trending in February

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 Only Ryanair publicly showed any interest - which it has since withdrawn.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

Trending in February

The ten most read articles on EX-YU Aviation News throughout February according to accumulated statistics:

1. Ryanair launching new Banja Luka service

2. Canadian envoy hints at Toronto - Belgrade flights
3. Air Serbia schedules six new routes

4. Philippine Airlines expands reach into EX-YU

5. Croatia Airlines schedules two new routes

6. Air Serbia CEO named in Alitalia investigation
7. New routes fuel hope for quick Ljubljana recovery
8. Iceland to manage Kosovo’s lower airspace

9. Air Serbia to lease former Adria A319s

10. Wizz Air Abu Dhabi shortlists EX-YU markets

The three most read trip reports in February:

1. Air Serbia, Podgorica - Belgrade
2. Forty-five minutes on Montenegro Airlines
3. Swiss, Zurich - Ljubljana

The most popular vintage photo published in February:

Dubrovnik Airport, 1982

The most visitors by country:

1. Serbia
2. Slovenia

3. United States

4. Croatia
5. United Kingdom
6. Canada
7. Germany
8. Bosnia and Herzegovina

9. Macedonia

10. Ireland
11. Australia
12. United Arab Emirates
13. Switzerland
14. Netherlands
15. Austria

Comments

Anonymous11:39
Interesting, so many news from this week in the top 10.
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