As printed in TTG and ttgbusiness.com
By Martin Ferguson in Milan
Lufthansa Italia has started a six-times daily service between Heathrow and its hub at Milan Malpensa.
Bosses at parent company Lufthansa say it will satisfy growing demand for a reliable service on the busy business route.
The airline flies daily from its home in northern Italy to eight European destinations, including Madrid, Barcelona, Paris and Brussels. Domestically it services Rome, Naples and Bari.
According to Lufthansa it is the first time an airline has been launched from scratch in a foreign market. The company says it would not rule out other start-up airlines in other countries in the future.
Lufthansa’s Heike Birlenbach will be appointed chief executive of the new Italian-registered company when it obtains an airline operator’s license this year.
Birlenbach said: “If this model works it is possible we could introduce it into other markets. We have not made any plans to do so yet, we have just seen an opportunity in the Italian market.
“The home carrier is struggling despite recently announcing expansion plans.”
Alitalia has been on the verge of bankruptcy for more than 18 months and has been continually bailed out by the country’s taxpayers.
Last month Air France/KLM bought a 25% stake in the ailing airline.
Birlenbach said any other potential start-ups would be in areas where there is demand for both business and leisure travellers. She also said transatlantic flights would be considered.
Two thirds of bookings made for the Heathrow – Milan route have so far been made in Italy. But Birlenbach says this is because marketing has been more intense in the home nation.
Lufthansa Italia will share its frequent flyer scheme with its German parent company.
April 6, 2009 at 8:57 am |
Oh finally there’s a top flight company that settles a regular flight from London to Milan… I’m glad I don’t need to stand the lousy economics department of Alitalie