Alitalia cargo close to relaunch
Alis Aerolinee awaits response to its ‘final offer’ for airline’s freighter operations.
Alis Aerolinee awaits response to its ‘final offer’ for airline’s freighter operations
Alitalia’s former freighter operations could be re-launched as early as March, following fresh moves by the owners of grounded Italian freighter airline Cargoitalia.
Cargoitalia could be relaunched with Alitalia MD-11 freighters as early as next month.
Alis Aerolinee Italiane said it had submitted a ‘final offer’ for the purchase of the assets and transport activities of the Italian airline’s former all-cargo business last week.
This included five MD-11 freighters, which ceased flying when Alitalia’s passenger airline was re-launched under new ownership last month.
Alis is expecting a response from Alitalia’s administrator, Augusto Fantozzi, with the aim of relaunching Italian intercontinental freighter services within weeks.
Alcide Leali, president of Alis, said: “We are very busy restarting cargo services from Malpensa, stopped in January by Alitalia.
“We expect that, through the establishment of the contract with the special commissioner of Alitalia and the arrival of the first MD-11, Cargoitalia will resume flights from Malpensa airport as early as March, providing jobs and direct connection to Italian companies.”
Leali said the planned takeover operation was “part of a comprehensive business plan, in which Alis has already executed the acquisition of new Airbus A330 [freighter] aircraft and of Cargoitalia”.
The first of five A330 freighters are due to be delivered next year.
Cargoitalia began operating in April 2006, and at its peak had four freighters – three leased and one owned – flying between Italy, the US, India and the Middle East. It ceased flying last autumn due to financial problems.
