Meridiana becomes Air Italy, he packs his bags and moves from Olbia (Sardinia) to Malpensa. “We want to become the number one brand in Italy and we have the resources to do so. You will see that we will be the star of the Italian skies", said the CEO of Qatar Airways, Akbar Al Baker during the official presentation of the new brand.
The Sardinian company, one step away from bankruptcy due to hundreds of millions of debts, changes its name, shape and finds new resources. The liquidity injections by Qatar Airways, which took over 49 percent of the company, will give new life and, according to the announcements, will allow create “more than 1.500 jobs”.
The figures were not disclosed, but “over the next five years Air Italy will have a fleet of 50 aircraft, 20 Boeing 737 Max 8 for short and medium-haul connections, 30 Boeing 787 Dreamliner for intercontinental flights”, explains Al Baker.
At the center of the strategic plan will be Malpensa, which will become Air Italy's major hub although the headquarters will remain in Olbia. “We will also enhance the national routes – he declares Marco Rigotti, president of Alisarda, the company that holds 51% of the holding company that owns Air Italy. – From Rome, Naples, Palermo, Catania and Lamezia Terme we will launch new connections, interconnected with Malpensa and therefore with the possibility of making intercontinental flights. The goal is to create 50 national destinations. In addition to New York and Miami, flights will also fly to Bangkok from September".
In Al Baker's project, however, there is also talk of recruitment: "We will need much more staff to manage the excellent services that will be on our aircraft. Not only will there be hiring, but we will be giving 20 percent of our profits to employees. As soon as we start to accumulate them”.
