Andy Nativi/GENOA
The European Commission (EC) has approved an Italian Government proposal aimed at assuaging airline grievances over the distribution of slots and flights between the two Milan airports, Malpensa - which opened in 1999 - and Linate.
The EC ruling, which could end a four year legal row over the forced transfer of traffic from Linate to Malpensa, endorses a plan increasing the number of available slots at the two airports from 83 to 88 per hour. Malpensa, unpopular with foreign carriers, will remain at 70 slots an hour, but Linate - preferred because it is closer to Milan city centre - sees its allocation rise to 18 per hour.
The increase will allow for the launch of new routes linking Linate with Helsinki, Copenhagen and Vienna, and a second daily flight to Frankfurt. Some of the 12 European airlines involved in a legal action against Rome over the Malpensa transfer are not satisfied with the compromise, although with a filing at the European Court of Justice their sole recourse, they may have to accept it.
The EC decision is bad news for Alitalia, which fears that an increase in flights from Linate could damage the competitiveness of its Malpensa hub, compromising a new strategic plan already under fire from some quarters.
The flag-carrier's chief executive Domenico Cempella criticised the Milan compromise, which has prompted speculation that he could resign over the issue.
Complicating Cempella's future is the fact that the Italian Treasury Ministry has taken charge of the 53% stake in Alitalia - worth around L3,000 billion ($1.5 billion) - previously controlled by state holding company IRI.
State-owned SEA, which runs the two Milan airports, says the EC's decision clears the way for programmes including a new cargo centre and maintenance hangars, with L200 billion to be invested this year alone.
Source: Flight International
