July 12, 2018

Air Italy Eyes Milan as New Flight Hub

John Selden (left), of the NY and NJ Port Authority, and Marco Rigotti (right), Deputy Executive Chairman of Air Italy, cut a cake to celebrate Air Italy's first flight from JFK Int'l Airport. Photo courtesy of: Air Italy Media Center. — John Selden (left), of the NY and NJ Port Authority, and Marco Rigotti (right), Deputy Executive Chairman of Air Italy, cut a cake to celebrate Air Italy’s first flight from JFK Int’l Airport. Photo courtesy of: Air Italy Media Center.

Milan, once a central nexus for air-travel, may regain that distinction thanks to the efforts of Air Italy. Formerly known as Meridiana, nearly half of Air Italy was purchased by Qatar Airways in 2017. Qatar Airways is one of the world’s top-ranked airlines.

With a hub in Milan, Air Italy is taking steps to re-center the city as an international travel hot-spot. Long-distance routes from Milan to JFK in New York and Miami International Airport are already established, with routes to Mumbai, Bangkok, and several other international locations to launch by the end of 2018.

Air Italy’s assets include nearly two-dozen of Boeing’s overhauled 737s for domestic flights, with thirty 787 Dreamliners waiting in the wings for intercontinental voyages. While competitors like Alitalia are struggling to remain solvent (even with foreign investment assistance), Air Italy is poised to set the standard for Italy’s air-travel industry.