A posse of U.S. Senators has Air Italy in its crosshairs, dampening news that the Italian carrier plans to add service to two California cities next yaer.
Air Italy Announces Service to LAX and SFO
Yesterday, Air Italy announced new nonstop service between Milan and both Los Angeles and San Francisco. Starting next spring, the new service will operate four times weekly under the following schedule:
Milan to Los Angeles route
Starting April 3, 2019, Air Italy will fly on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays utilizing an Airbus A330:
IG943 – Milan (MXP) to Los Angeles (LAX) dep 1:00PM arr 4:50PM (12h,50m)
IG944 – Los Angeles (LAX) to Milan (MXP) dep 6:50PM arr 3:55PM+1 (12hr,05m)
Milan to San Francisco route
Starting April 3, 2019, Air Italy will fly on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays utilizing an Airbus A330:
IG937 – Milan (MXP) to San Francisco (SFO) dep 1:35PM arr 5:10PM (12h,35m)
IG938 – San Francisco (SFO) to Milan (MXP) dep 7:10PM arr 4:05PM+1 (11hr,55m)
I am greatly looking forward to trying Air Italy aboard this new route, especially because I conduct a lot of business in Milan. While British Airways will likely sell business class seats for 90K Avios each way, I am hoping for some incredible introductory deals. Flights are not yet for sale and subject to government approval. That leads me to my next point.
Senators Accuse Qatar Of Using Air Italy To Operate Fifth Freedom Routes To USA
I’ve written several times about Air Italy, including Qatar Airways’ 49% investment in the airline. That investment has concerned 11 U.S. Senators, who accuse Air Italy of being nothing more than a front for Qatar Airways. As evidence for that contention, they quote Qatar CEO Akbar Al-Baker, who stated, “We want to become the number-one airline brand in Italy, and have the resources to accomplish this goal.”
Timeout. Isn’t that what any investor would want for their airline? Al Baker was speaking of Air Italy, not Qatar Airways. And routes between the United States and Italy by a majority-owned Italian carrier cannot possibly be construed as Fifth Freedom flights.
That leaves spurious charges, including general suspicion over subsidies and aircraft loans from Qatar Airways. How is an airline supposed to grow and be profitable without aircraft? And this one gets me. The busy Senators also believe “Air Italy’s new daily non-stop service between Milan and New York is commercially questionable given that the route is already served with daily non-stop service by five other carriers (United, Delta, American, Alitalia and Emirates). So now Emirates get a pass? And why shouldn’t Air Italy want to jump into what is an obviously lucrative market? Alitalia admitted that its New York JFK flights account for 15% of ALL revenue! It is no surprise that Air Italy wants in on the party. But the Senators merely conclude, “Air Italy’s entry into this crowded market appears consistent with Qatar Airways pattern of adding subsidized capacity in markets where demand is already well-served.”
The Senators have asked Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross to investigate and report back to them.
Probably a hollow threat meant to pacify important donors, but disappointing nonetheless.
CONCLUSION
I welcome Air Italy to the United States and especially to California. More flights means more competition…that usually means consumers wins. And Senators, what other carrier are you going to be able to fly nonstop on between Milan and the West Coast?
*crickets*
Doesn’t Delta also invest in other airlines?
Yes, Delta owns 49.9% of Virgin Atlantic and AeroMexico; 10% of Air France-KLM Group (which itself will also own 31% of Virgin Atlantic once the proposed purchase of those shares from Sir Richard Branson closes next year); 9.5% of Brazil’s Gol; and 3.5% of China Eastern.
Delta also submitted an undisclosed (presumed “low ball”) offer to invest/purchase an also undisclosed percent (not to exceeed 49.9% due to EU foreign ownership restrictions) in Alitalia’s pending restructuring announced November 1st focusing on Alitalia’s long-haul operations.
So, Delta is hardly as “disinterested”, objective party in this effort to undermine (kill off) Air Italy’s proposed expansion that “Lyin’ Ted” Cruz et al have been enlisted (paid off?) to shoot down with (bald faced lies) before it even takes off.
On that logic, let’s block BA and all other IAG brands, Qatar holds a 20% stake there. These senators need to be voted out for wasting time and money.
which Senators? by not calling them out by name, you are contributing to the problem.
They are in the linked letter. All GOP.
@rjb he links to the letter which you can click on.
I don’t even know what to say about this other than the US Congress has wayyyyyy bigger things to worry about.
Well, the US has lately abrogated enough treaties made in good faith that what’s one more? I guess you could take the opposing view and say that your word is not something to ignore whenever convenient.
Given Wilbur Ross’s behavior with Bombardier and the CS100 (now A220 – thanks Trump Admin!) I would not consider this threat to be an idle one. Spurious, yes, but the ethically challenged Ross — with many conflicts of interest, some potentially still not known — involved, there is no assurance this team of crack Cabinet members might not go on the offensive.