PINO MODOLA / GENOA & JUSTIN WASTNAGE / LONDON
Italian start-up gets temporary aircraft as it works out contract details with Bombardier
Italian start-up Blue Line is finalising a deal with Bombardier for three Dash 8 Q400s as it prepares to launch regional services from southern Italy.
Bombardier says there are still some contractual details to be worked out. The deal includes the supply of an interim aircraft. Blue Line says it expects to take delivery of an ex-Scandinavian Commuter aircraft later this month, following overhaul by British European Aviation Services in the UK, to enable services to start in early September. This interim aircraft will be replaced by the first of three Q400s directly from Bombardier at the end of October. The second will follow in January and the third in April.
The airline will operate the 78-seaters from the Trapani air force base in western Sicily to Florence, Palermo, Rome Fiumicino and the Italian island of Pantelleria off the Tunisian coast.
A hotelier from Pantelleria is a majority shareholder in the new venture and the carrier sees "significant potential for cheaper fares" to the island, which is served only by Italian regional Gandalf Airlines using a Fairchild Dornier 328 turboprop. Blue Line is aiming to double its c1 million ($990,000) investment from businesses on the island in return for bringing in more tourists. The company expects to reach c8 million in capital by year-end.
Blue Line executive Dario Catalisano says the airline should start charter flights to western European destinations after it takes delivery of the third aircraft. The carrier had previously evaluated ATR 72-500s, but opted for the Bombardier aircraft because of its greater payload and range - 2,520km (1,360nm) - and better field performance. The strip at Pantelleria is 1,600m (5,250ft) long. Planned future destinations include the Italian island of Elba.
Source: Flight International
