TRAFFIC BETWEEN Rome and Milan Linate Airport has risen by 22% in the first quarter of 1996 compared with the same period in 1995, with two new entrants, Air One and Noman, providing tough competition for Italian flag carrier Alitalia.
Passenger traffic rose by 563,000 in the first three months of the year, leading to projections of a total of 2.4 million for the year, compared with 2.1 million in 1995.
Air-transport liberalisation has given rise to several new carriers. Air One came into being in November 1995, while Noman, which operates from Rome's second airport, Ciampino, has been in business since February.
From May, former air-taxi operator Alpi Eagles is due to open a Fokker 100 service between Verona and Rome, competing with established carrier Meridiana, and between Venice and Rome, competing with Alitalia and Meridiana.
In late May, Minerva Airlines will begin using a Dornier 328 for services from Crotone in southern Italy (unsuccessfully proposed as a base for US Air Force Lockheed Martin F-16s moved from Spain) and from Padua in the north. Also in May, FAR airlines, plans to start operations with Bombardier de Havilland Dash 7s from Milan to Florence and the island of Elba.
Financing problems are delaying new entrant, Azzura Air, from flying between Bergamo and domestic and international destinations, using a British Aerospace 146.
See Business, P14.
Air Malta is a partner in the airline.o
Air One, established in November 1995, is among those challenging Alitalia
Source: Flight International