Airlines

Italy to inject another 400 mn euros into airline

Lufthansa submits offer to acquire a stake in ITA

The Italian government approved another 400 million euros ($400 million) injection into state-owned ITA Airways on Tuesday, as efforts to sell the airline stalled. After the economy ministry approved the injection, the money will be made accessible to the airline by the end of the month.

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The airline was established last year from the remains of Alitalia, which was shut down after suffering losses of more than 11 billion euros over a decade. While insisting on a new, smaller corporation and restricted public backing, the European Union gave Italy permission to continue supporting an airline.

In August, the previous administration, led by former Italian prime minister Mario Draghi, decided to accept an offer from US investment firm Certares, Delta Air Lines, and Air France-KLM over one from Lufthansa and shipping company MSC.

However, the new Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti did not extend the exclusivity of talks with ITA at the end of October due to the lack of progress in negotiations with the Certares consortium, reopening the door for Lufthansa and shipping company MSC.

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The pick of Certares also dissatisfied the airline’s chairman, Alfredo Altavilla, who resigned on Monday after a disagreement with the board of directors about the appointment. For 350 million euros, the Certares consortium had suggested purchasing 50% of ITA plus one share, leaving the Italian government to own the remaining shares.

Beginning in November, Lufthansa declared that it was “still interested” in acquiring ITA—but only if there was a “true privatization of the airline.” The airline was originally scheduled to get an infusion of 400 million euros in 2022, which follows a 700 million euro investment made in the business last year. Italy has been given permission by the European Commission to invest up to 1.35 billion euros in the airline.

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Airlines

Air India Rolls Out A350s for Delhi-New York JFK and Newark Routes

In a major development for North American travelers, Air India has announced the deployment of its state-of-the-art Airbus A350-900 aircraft on two key routes: Delhi to New York and Delhi to Newark.

The service on the Delhi-New York route will commence on November 1, 2024, while the Delhi-Newark route will see its inaugural flight on January 2, 2025.

The introduction of the air india a350 will bring significant enhancements to Air India’s offerings, particularly with the launch of its Premium Economy class. air india retrofit This new class will feature 24 wide seats arranged in a 2-4-2 configuration, providing passengers with extra legroom and a more comfortable flying experience.

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“We are encouraged by the positive guest feedback we have received from the domestic deployment of our air india a350 interior to offer our hero product on the Delhi-New York JFK and Delhi-Newark routes. This is a significant leap forward for our U.S. operations that also underscores our commitment to continuous improvement,” said Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director of Air India.

The A350’s Business class will set new standards with 28 private suites, each equipped with full-flat beds, direct aisle access, and personal wardrobes. Economy class will be configured to accommodate 264 passengers in a 3-4-3 layout. Across all cabins, passengers will enjoy the latest Panasonic eX3 in-flight entertainment system, offering over 2,200 hours of content.

Air India’s First A350-900: Interior, Routes, &Inflight Features: Click here

This strategic deployment marks a notable enhancement in Air India’s U.S. operations, with 60% of its flights to the U.S. now featuring new or upgraded cabin interiors. The air india new international routes currently operates 51 weekly flights to five U.S. destinations: New York JFK, Newark, Washington DC, Chicago, and San Francisco.

The revamped cabins, advanced in-flight entertainment systems, and improved service standards represent air india wifi commitment to providing a superior travel experience. “We believe this enhanced offering will solidify Air India’s position as a leading carrier and attract travellers seeking a world-class flying experience between India and the United States,” the airline stated.

Seats on these flights are now available for booking on Air India’s website, mobile app, and through travel agents, ensuring that passengers can easily plan their journeys on these newly upgraded routes.