The freeing up of Italy's skies to local operators in January is already having a visible effect, as the rate of startups even outstrips the more dynamic UK market.
After the emergence of two direct challengers to Alitalia - Air One and Noman - in the last 10 months, scheduled startup Alpi Eagles began operations in mid-June on the Venice-Rome route. The carrier has gone head-to-head with the Italian flag carrier, operating six daily frequencies against Alitalia's eight, and has also launched services to Rome and Cagliari from Verona. The carrier also has plans to start services to European business centres from Verona. Alpi Eagles operates three ex-Swissair F100s, bought from British Aerospace Asset Management-Jets, formerly AMO. The carrier has strong backing - corporate shareholders including white goods manufacturer Zanussi own 97 per cent.
Italy could witness another startup by December. Bergamo-based Air Azzurra is a planned joint venture between Italian financial institutions and Air Malta, which as a non-European Union carrier is limited to a 49 per cent stake. The Maltese carrier has ordered three RJ85s for the airline, according to Reuters.
In the UK, the startup of London/City-based World Airlines in mid-May to Amsterdam was followed in mid-June by Debonair Airways. The London/Luton-based low-fare carrier already operates to Munich, Düsseldorf/Express, Barcelona, Madrid and Newcastle using three BAe146-200s and plans to add Copenhagen. Chairman Franco Mancassola is looking to establish two further hubs at Milan and Düsseldorf.
Mark Odell
Source: Airline Business
