ITALY: Air Italy To Commence Flights To US June 1 to JFK And Miami June 8

Italy’s newest airline is ready to launch long-haul flights under its new callsign, new colors, and recently acquired Airbus A330-200 to New York (JFK) and Miami (MIA).

Air Italy flights to the US will begin on June 1 to JFK and June 8 to MIA.

As the Italian carrier initiates its long-haul adventure under Qatar Airways’ watch, Airways will test its new premium service on both inaugural flights from New York and to Miami.

The Doha-based carrier purchased 49% of Meridiana’s shares back in February this year, then transforming the airline into Air Italy.

Qatar Airways not only invested in the small Italian airline; it also boosted its operations by leasing them five Airbus A330s, which will initiate Air Italy’s international expansion while 30 factory-fresh Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners are assembled and delivered from Boeing’s plant in Everett.

The first ex-Qatar Airways Airbus A330-200 was delivered to Air Italy on May 17, right after the plane was towed out of the painting hangar in Dublin, Ireland, sporting a fresh livery.

The remaining four A330s will arrive in the upcoming months.

On top of these wide-body planes, 20 Boeing 737 MAX 8s will join the Italian airline to boost its domestic and regional networks through 2022, replacing the aging 737NGs in the airline’s fleet.

The first 737 MAX was officially delivered at Boeing’s Delivery Center in Paine Field Airport (PAE) on May 11, arriving in Italy the following morning.

Since then, Air Italy has deployed the aircraft on several domestic runs numerous times per day, including trips from MXP to Naples (NAP), Palermo (PMO), and one hop to Hamburg (HAM).

According to an Air Italy spokesperson, the plane might be deployed on future flights to the airline’s headquarters in Olbia, Sardinia. Airways will also report live from that flight.

The first A330 will then be deployed on the airline’s inaugural trip to JFK on June 1, under flight IG901, departing Milan-Malpensa (MXP) at 13:10, arriving in JFK at 16:00.

The return flight from JFK will depart at 20:30 under the callsign IG902, arriving the following morning at 10:35.

Through the airline’s website, Air Italy offers its passengers to accrue British Airways/Iberia Avios on all their flights.

Likewise, Air Italy will deploy its recently-painted A330 on the inaugural MXP-MIA route on June 8.

Flight IG903 will depart MXP at 13:00, arriving in MIA at 17:45. The return flight leaves MIA at 19:45, landing in Milan the following morning at 11:10.

Airways will also cover the inaugural MXP-MIA flight, with reporters both in the air and on the ground.

Flights to Miami are offered four times per week, whereas flights to New York are set to depart on a daily basis.

Stay tuned for more news and follow all Airways social media feeds for live coverage of these events.


Tourism Observer

ITALY: Air Italy Acquires First Boeing 737 MAX 8, Arrives In Milan - Malpensa

The first Boeing 737 MAX 8 delivered to an Italian carrier has finally arrived at Air Italy’s new operational base in Milan-Malpensa (MXP).

Following a 12-hour delivery journey from Paine Field (PAE), the plane flew non-stop to Shannon (SNN), Ireland for a refueling stop, before completing the trip with a two-hour, twenty-minute hop to Milan.

Flight Meridiana 2060 departed PAE at 13:25 local time, crossing Canadian airspace before entering central Greenland, southern Iceland, and reaching the Northern Irish coastline for its scheduled stop in SNN at 06:40 the following morning.

The aircraft was officially delivered at Boeing’s Delivery Center in Paine Field Airport (PAE) Everett, Washington on May 11.

At the occasion the Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency, Mr. Akbar Al Baker, granted Airways a one-on-one interview revealing his thoughts on his new Italian venture.

This Boeing 737 MAX 8 for Air Italy is the first of a batch of 50 brand-new Boeing jets that will be delivered to Italian airline industry in the upcoming years.

The plane comes fitted with spacious, modern cabins, including a Business Class that will differentiate themselves from its competitors in the European marketplace.

According to Al Baker, the 20 new 737 MAX 8s will replace the current 737NGs that the airline currently operates. New planes will join the fleet through 2022, guaranteeing continuous growth.

Onboard the delivery flight were Al Baker with the Chairman of Alisarda and AQA Holding, Mr. Marco Rigotti, Director of Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) and AQA Holding Board Member, Mr. Sultan Allana, and Chairman of Air Italy, Mr. Francesco Violante.

Upon landing in Milan, the plane was greeted with the traditional water cannon salute, followed by a ceremony in which Al Baker cut the ribbon to mark the start of his new Italian venture.

During the press conference, the airline’s executives highlighted the importance of this first delivery, which will mark the pace for the upcoming five years.

It is truly a remarkable moment to be witnessing the launch of a new era in Italian aviation, declared Al Baker.

The touchdown of Air Italy’s first Boeing B737 Max in new livery at Milan marks the beginning of a new travel experience for the people of Italy, he added.

Al Baker admitted to being delighted to be supporting his newest investment by leasing five Airbus A330-200s from his Qatar Airways fleet.

These five wide-body planes will launch the airline’s long-haul network, which will eventually be boosted by the arrival of the first Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners that Qatar Airways has ordered for them.

According to Air Italy, the first 787-8 should be delivered by May 2019.

Already announced, the carrier plans to launch long-haul flights from Milan to New York (JFK), Miami (MIA), Bangkok (BKK), and Mumbai (BOM).

From Rome, however, the airline plans to launch long-haul flights in May 2019, presumably when the first Dreamliner joins the fleet.

The first Boeing 737 MAX 8 routes will likely be domestic and regional services.

Air Italy has announced that connecting flights from Milan to Rome, Naples, Palermo, and Olbia will be launched immediately.

Flights to Catania and Lamezia Terme will be launched in July and September.

During the ceremony, not only the plane was shown to a large group of Italian and International media; the new Air Italy uniforms were unveiled as well.

Too similar to the Qatar Airways design, the new uniforms feature the traditional stewardess hat and equally cut jackets/skirts.

Several Twitter users have criticized the airline’s choice to mimic Qatar Airways’ design, fading away from the Italian personality that the airline’s name evokes.

However, it remains to be seen whether the long-haul, premium cabin product will be seen as all-new, leaving a question mark on whether the carrier will aim to deliver a unique product or just copy the already successful Qatar Airways lead.

The cabin of the first 737 MAX 8 features the typical 3-3 layout with seats dressed in different dark colors.

Up front, Business Class seats offer 33 inches of pitch.

Each seat comes equipped with a tablet-ready holder, as demonstrated by Italian journalist Leonard Berberi in his post.

Another feature fitted in the airplane’s galley is an espresso coffee machine, a must as said by some Italian journalists.

It hasn’t been disclosed by the airline when the first 737 MAX 8 revenue flight will occur.

The first Airbus A330’s arrival to the airline’s base hasn’t been confirmed by Qatar Airways or Air Italy.


Tourism Observer