New Italian carrier Aeroitalia recently announced a major route network increase, as well as a high profile new service to London Heathrow.
Many of these services put it directly in competition with new Italian flag carrier ITA Airways, which is itself trying to establish itself in the space vacated by Alitalia a couple of years ago.
So who its AeroItalia and what does the network and fleet comprise?
History
Aeroitalia is a very young airline. It was founded in 2022 by a consultant for Italy’s ministry of infrastructure and transport, and is backed a high net worth individual from South America who acts as the company’s president.
With a relatively short incubation and setup period, Aeroitalia sourced its first aircraft – a Boeing 737-800 previously operated by Blue Panorama Airlines – in April 2022, with flights commencing in July from the airline’s base at Forli in northern Italy.
These were soon followed up by flights from a second base at Florence.
Strategy
Aeroitalia launched with low-cost flights intended to attract customers to its services and create a buzz.
While it is beginning its life at a time when Italy’s airline sector is up for grabs, following the loss of Alitalia and early days of ITA Airways, it seems Aeroitalia is targeting the low-cost market rather than full service.
With Italy being heavily dominated by low-cost carriers like Ryanair, Aeroitalia initially seems to be targeting unserved markets, such as its route to London Heathrow. It is also supplementing its scheduled services with charters to fully utilise its aircraft.
Destinations
As mentioned, Aeroitalia launched at Forli and Florence, with a third base in Bergamo, near Milan, added soon after.
The bulk of the airline’s services are to domestic destinations across Italy. Interestingly, at the time of writing it does not serve either of Milan’s two main airports (Bergamo is considered the third Milan airport).
In Rome, it serves the main Fiumicino “Leonardo da Vinci” airport, rather than the typically low-cost Ciampino.
Other destinations served include Malta, Bacau, Bucharest and London Heathrow.
Huge Expansion Announced
Aeroitalia load 24 new routes into the system from 🇮🇹Bergamo:
Alghero
Amsterdam
Barcelona
Brindisi
Bucharest
Corfu
Heraklion
Ibiza
Karpathos
Kefalonia
Lamezia Terme
Lampedusa
Larnaca
Lublin
Málaga
Mykonos
Olbia
Reggio Calabria
Rhodes
Santorini
Tirana
Tel Aviv
Valencia
Zakynthos pic.twitter.com/YrKMCaWeWW— Sean M 🌈✈ (@SeanM1997) December 5, 2022
On 5th December, a huge expansion in Aeroitalia’s network was announced, with 24 new routes from its Bergamo hub planned.
As well as five new domestic destinations, it will also add routes to:
- Corfu
- Heraklion
- Ibiza
- Karpathos
- Kefalonia
- Lampedusa
- Larnaca
- Lublin
- Malaga
- Mykonos
- Rhodes
- Tirana
- Tel Aviv
- Valencia
- Zakynthos
Aeroitalia Fleet
Aeroitalia launched operations with Boeing 737-800 9H-CRI, which arrived in April 2022.
This aircraft was followed by three others, 9H-FRA, 9H-GEF and 9H-GFP
All aircraft are leased from
Aeroitalia has since added an ATR 72-600, YR-ACA, which is leased from Air Connect and will target shorter domestic and regional routes, and destinations with shorter runways.
Two additional Boeing 737-800s are due to join the fleet soon, and the airline has ordered three 737 Max 8 variants.
Aeroitalia Livery
Aeroitalia is clearly focusing its branding on Italian national identity, and on the public’s fond memories of Alitalia – the national airline which disappeared after 75 years of service in 2021.
The airline bases its livery around the green, white and red of the Italian flag, and incorporates a stylised ‘A’ on the tail and forward fuselage, with green and red cheatlines. Much like Alitalia did, which gives it a very familiar feel.
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