On 14 October, Alitalia conducted its final flight. The flight, AZ1586, left Cagliari at 22:36 and arrived at Rome-Fiumicino at 23:23, and was operated by A320 EI-DSV (3598). On 15 October, Italia Trasporto Aereo -ITA officially launched as Alitalia's successor. The first flight was AZ1637, from Milan-Linate to Bari, which was operated by A320 EI-EKU (1217).
ITA has, however, won the bid for the Alitalia-branding on 14 October and has paid 90 million euros to the administrators of Alitalia. As a result, ITA will operate under the Alitalia-brand, which was fully expected. The only difference is that the three letter-code has changed into ITY, while the two letter-code remains AZ. The new Alitalia will also stay in the SkyTeam-alliance.
To celebrate the launch of the new Alitalia, ITA has painted A320 EI-EIB (4249) in a special "Born in 2021" livery. The aircraft arrived at Rome-Fiumicino from Shannon on 15 October and will be used to present the new Alitalia to the world on this day.
Despite the usage of the Alitalia-brand, things did changed at the new company as it currently only employs around 2,800 co-workers, a big reduction compared to the 10,500 staff the old Alitalia had on payroll. ITA is also starting with a much smaller fleet than the one operated by Alitalia as it will launch with one ERJ190, seventeen A319s, 27 A320s and seven A330-200s, which is a reduction of 25 aircraft compared to the old Alitalia.
Earlier this month, the airline announced it will lease and buy new Airbus-aircraft to replace its older aircraft.
As the carrier continues to operate in the face of mounting uncertainty over its future beyond 2019, Alitalia was about to embark on a small scale fleet modernization, which would see a limited number of second-hand new generation Airbus A321neo join its fleet in the coming months.
These incoming new generation Airbus A321neos, previously operated by now-defunct Primera Air, would have enabled Alitalia to reap the immediate financial benefits of lower fuel burn on many of its popular routes. Photo: Adrian Pingstone (Arpingstone)However, sources close to the airline have revealed to Airways that the acceptance process of the three A321neos has been “frozen.”
“Unless of new surprises in the coming weeks, there will be no arrival of new aircraft replacements for the eldest A321s in Alitalia’s fleet.”
Currently, Alitalia operates some of the oldest A321s in the world. Some of which have been flying for as long as 22 years.
Following the resignation of Alitalia’s Commissioner, Luigi Gubitosi—who had strongly supported the A321neos choice to renew the eldest A321s in the fleet—the current management of the airline considered it was “more prudent” to cancel the leasing agreement of the three planes.
Gubitosi said goodbye to Alitalia in November after what he deemed as a very positive transitional period. He moved on as CEO of TIM, an Italian telecommunications company. Photo: Adrian Pingstone (Arpingstone)“Alitalia continues to grow at double figures,” he wrote in a public letter to the airline’s employees. “Our operating performance sees us as one of the world leaders. In January, three Airbus A321neos will arrive, marking the beginning of the modernization process of our fleet,” he wrote.
These statements from Gubitosi, however, are contradicted by Andrea Giuricin, a renowned Italian Economist and researcher.
“Alitalia’s market share in 2018 fell below the 14% mark,” he told Airways. “Compared to 2017, the market share loss was higher because the market runs much faster than the Italian company.”
Giuricin published his findings on Alitalia’s 2018 performance. “In the first nine months, Alitalia lost €313.2 million—almost €1.2 million per day. And during the winter, it loses even more than €2 million per day.”
The Bad Fate Of Three A321neos
The three ex-Primera Air Airbus A321s—registered OY-PAC, OY-PAD and OY-PAE—owned by leasing company Aviation Capital Group (ACG), were the ones chosen by former Commissioner Gubitosi.
The Italian airline had concluded the agreement to lease these three new planes, all of which are ready to be re-painted into Alitalia’s colors. A321neo (EI-LIA) • Newquay Cornwall • Photo: Phil SalterThe first plane, former OY-PAE (MSN 8312), was withdrawn from service in October last year, about one month after being delivered from Airbus to Primera Air. Today, the plane carries the new registration for Alitalia, EI-ITA.
The second A321neo (OY-PAC • MSN 8260), was re-registered EI-LIA. The third, and last plane, (OY-PAD • MSN 8288), bears now the registration EI-GHV.
Interestingly, for the aviation enthusiast community, the first two planes carry the EI-ITA and -LIA registrations. If put together, it says ITALIA.
Flying in all directions
Although Alitalia has not issued an official statement on the cancellation of the Airbus A321neo lease, several aviation forums in Italy confirm its veracity.
Now that the airplanes have been re-registered, it is very likely that Alitalia will have to pay a fine for abruptly exiting the contract—yet another blow to an airline that’s flying on life support.
Alitalia continues to rack up as much as €3.3 billion in debt, keeping its planes in the air thanks to hundreds of millions of Euros in state loans. The Italian carrier has been negotiating, tirelessly, with competing airlines for a potential takeover, including low-cost carriers easyJet, Ryanair, and even legacy carriers like Air France and Lufthansa.
Recently, there was some chatter which put both Alitalia and Delta Air Lines in the same room negotiating a potential partnership between both carriers, with Delta keeping a 49% stake in Alitalia. This, however, has not been confirmed or denied by the Atlanta-based carrier.
The deal with Delta might be tied to the potential takeover of Italy’s national rail system provider, Ferrovie dello Stato, over Alitalia.
Reportedly, the national train company could be a suitable bidder to take over the ill-fated Italian airline, which would also entice Delta to expand its investment portfolio outside the United States.
Italian media report that the Ferrovie dello Stato’s takeover plan will be unveiled to the public before the end of January.
Overall, should the A321neo cancellation materialize, Alitalia would show tremendous disarray in what should be the most orchestrated airline management office in the world.
As the airline continues to fly under special administration, the horizons seem quite far from clearing up.
Commercial Pilot and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Graduate. Aviation MBA, Av-Gas Addict, Spotter, Globetrotter, Airplane Collector, Cook, AS Roma fan, and on my free time, I fly the Airways Ship. Favorite airline, airport and aircraft: Viasa, Tokyo-Haneda, and MD-11. Love to Fly, Fly to Love.
MIAMI — Italian flag carrier, Alitalia, is ready to take delivery of its three Airbus A321neos while it continues to operate under exclusive administration.
As the carrier continues to operate in the face of mounting uncertainty over its future beyond 2019, Alitalia is now embarking on a small scale fleet modernization, which will see a limited number of second-hand new generation Airbus A321neo join its fleet in the coming months.
Alitalia A321 EI-IXH Malta International Airport
Having entered bankruptcy protection in May 2017, the carrier went on to receive over €1 billion in emergency funding from the Italian government, which had to be paid by the beginning of December.
The original deadline for repayment of the loan has since been extended until June 2019, as the airline and government scramble to find a prospective buyer.
These incoming new generation Airbus A321neos, previously operated by now-defunct Primera Air, will enable Alitalia to reap the immediate financial benefits of lower fuel burn on many of its popular routes.
The three aircraft, owned by leasing companies GECAS and Celestial, will inject a breath of fresh air to the ill-fated airline, which just recorded yet another record-breaking month as Europe’s most on-time airline.
The airline continues to operate many of the earliest-built examples of the Airbus A321, which were produced in the mid-1990s. Having taken delivery of their first example back in November 1994, many of these aging Airbus’s continue to fly with Alitalia.
The first A321neo the carrier will take delivery of will be OY-PAC, previously delivered to Primera Air Scandinavia in May 2018.
With Primera Air having ceased operations, at the end of September, this A321neo, along with another pair, remain in temporary storage at Newquay Airport.
Soon, the plane is to be repainted into Alitalia’s colors and delivered to Rome, entering service by January 2019.
Loading ...
