Max Kingsley-Jones/LONDON
Start-up carriers AZZURRA Air and Debonair have formed a regional alliance on services between the UK and Italy, which they hope to expand into a pan-European link-up.
AZZURRA will begin a new service under a codeshare arrangement between its base in Bergamo, near Milan, and Debonair's headquarters at London Luton, with a through service to Rome Ciampino.
"We hope this will be the starting point to encourage more regional airlines to form partnerships," says Debonair chairman Franco Mancassola, adding that he hopes to finalise link-ups soon with others operating "similar equipment".
Debonair now has seven BAe 146-200s while AZZURA operates three of the newer Avro RJ85s. The Italian start-up already operates to London City from Turin, while Debonair serves Rome direct from Luton and also connects the Italian capital to Copenhagen via Munich.
The announcement comes at a critical time for AZZURRA, which launched services in December 1996. Air Malta, which holds a 49% shareholding in the airline and owns its fleet, recently enlisted Fortis Aviation to remarket AZZURRA's three RJ85s plus one of its own four RJ70s. The remaining three RJ70s are being transferred to AZZURRA between November and next March.
AZZURRA managing director Dominic Attard, who was transferred from Air Malta to head up the new carrier, says that he hopes to keep the RJ85s alongside the RJ70s. He adds that discussions are taking place to acquire replacement aircraft in the "hypothetical situation" that the RJs are indeed sold.
Meanwhile Mancassola says that Debonair's fleet will be expanded with the addition of five ex-Thai International BAe 146-300s on lease. "We hope to introduce the first aircraft, in 96-seat configuration, early next year," he says.
AZZURRA already codeshares with Swissair on services to Zurich, and will begin operating with Alitalia codes to London City in November, from Turin and Milan. The airline believes that the link with Debonair to Bergamo could be expanded to encompass points in Germany and France, helping to develop the airport into a regional hub.
Source: Flight International
