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THE AVERAGE AGE OF THE 11 AIRCRAFT OWNED BY MERIDIANA BEFORE QATAR AIRWAYS’ INVESTMENT

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LONG-RANGE AIRCRAFT ORDERED BY MERIDIANA REBRANDED AS AIR ITALY AFTER QATAR AIRWAYS’ INVESTMENT

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NUMBER OF NORTH AMERICAN DESTINATIONS SERVED BY MERIDIANA BEFORE QATAR AIRWAYS’ INVESTMENT

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NUMBER OF NEW NORTH AMERICAN DESTINATIONS ANNOUNCED BY AIR ITALY IN THE PAST YEAR

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Air Italy Aircraft Expansion

Meridiana was Italy’s second largest carrier (sixth largest airline group in Italy), with an aging fleet (average age of aircraft was 18 years), a heavy dependence on the domestic Italian market, and a sub-scale international network. It had been plagued by years of poor management and financial losses. Dominated by European LCCs and larger Italian airline, Air Italy’s better international network, Meridiana faced heavy losses, spiraling costs, and the prospect of further future recapitalization.

What most saw as an airline on its last legs, Qatar Airways saw as an opportunity. Qatar Airways had been under intense scrutiny by US and European governmental bodies for predatory business practices aimed at quickly acquiring massive market share in international aviation through massive subsidization by the Qatari government. Qatar, who had pledged no further expansion of Qatar Airways into US markets until they opened their books, increased transparency, and addressed the subsidy issue, saw an opportunity to circumvent that agreement by operating under a different livery. So, Qatar purchased a 49% stake in the airline (max allowed under EU regulations).

And with that purchase, Air Italy was brought into existence. Qatar Airways’ CEO Akbar Al Baker announced a rebranding of Meridiana as Air Italy. Operating with Qatar Airways’ funds, and flying on Qatar Airways’ planes, an airline that had once been a struggling regional carrier announced new long-haul transatlantic routes into North America (6 in the past year!), and took orders for almost 50 brand new long-range aircraft.

AIR ITALY IN THE NEWS

Trump and Emir Must Clear the Air on Open Skies

Qatar’s “devious scheme to violate its Open Skies agreement with the United States” should have been a topic of discussion during Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamin bin Kamad’s recent visit to the White House. Even though Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says he has the issue covered, National Center Senior Fellow Drew Johnson says that Qatar “is making Congress and the

Air Italy plans North American growth despite US protests

Air Italy plans to announce at least two additional North American destinations for the summer of 2020, as the airline expands transatlantic service despite opposition from US legacy carriers. The carrier also hopes to unveil its first US interline partner later this year, chief operating officer Rossen Dimitrov tells FlightGlobal. He declines to specify the new

americans4fairskies2015Meridiana / Air Italy