Air One (Rome), the fast-growing Italian airline, has signed a firm order with Airbus for 12 A350-800s, plus 12 options, and 12 A330-200s, plus eight options. The Rome based airline, the second largest in Italy, will use these aircraft to develop a comprehensive long-haul route network, which will complement Air One’s extensive domestic and European operations. With this contract, Air One now has a total of 24 widebody aircraft on order with Airbus (plus 20 options), as well a global agreement for 90 A320 aircraft of which 65 A320s are firm orders and the remaining 25 are to be gradually firmed up.
Air One’s newly ordered A330s will offer a comfortable two-class cabin layout for 253 passengers. The A350-800, the most eco-efficient next generation aircraft, will equally have a two-class cabin for up to 287 passengers.
Carlo Toto, President of Air One, said: “The purchase of 24 Airbus wide-body long range aircraft is a key element in our company’s growth strategy, with a view to achieving major developments in the intercontinental market over the next few years. The A330s will give us the best economics and passenger comfort in the medium term, with the A350 providing us with the most efficient and modern aircraft family at the next stage of our growth plans. In addition, the commonality of those long range aircraft with our growing A320 fleet in operation brings important savings and benefits.”
“We are delighted that Air One is again confirming its confidence in Airbus by ordering our long haul products, which will complement their A320 fleet. We are sure that the best selling A330 and the all-new, A350 will contribute to Air One’s international growth plans with the right product at the right time,” stated Tom Enders, Airbus President and CEO.
The A350 XWB (Xtra Wide-Body) Family is Airbus’ response to widespread market demand for a series of highly efficient medium-capacity long-range wide-body aircraft. With a range of up to 8,300 nm / 15,400 km, it is available in three basic passenger versions: the A350-800 accommodating 270 passengers, the A350-900 seating 314, and the A350-1000 for 350 passengers. The A350 has the widest fuselage in its category, offering unprecedented levels of comfort, the lowest operating costs and lowest seat mile cost of any aircraft in this market segment. Powered by two new generation Rolls Royce Trent XWB engines delivering each up to 92,000 lbs of thrust, the A350 XWB Family is designed to confront the challenges of high fuel prices, rising passenger expectations, and environmental concerns. This latest contract brings the total firm orders for the A350 to 374 from 23 customers.
With a true wide-body fuselage allowing very high comfort standards, the A330-200 is able to accommodate seat and class configurations to suit the diverse customer requirements. It has a range of up to 6,750 nm / 12,500 km with a full passenger load. It also has the excellent operational flexibility necessary to serve a wide range of route structures, providing operators with very low operating cost per seat. Its proven record of economy and superior passenger comfort provides operators with a significant competitive advantage in the market today.
(Story and Picture Copyright Airbus Media Service)
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| Politicians in Italy have hatched a plan to keep Alitalia (Rome) in Italian hands. Prime Minister front runner Silvio Berlusconi described Air France-KLM’s offer for the ailing Italian carrier as “arrogant and unacceptable". Berlusconi also announced that he and his family have proposed a rival bid that could involve Arab investors, privately owned Italian carrier Air One (Rome), and/or Italian bank Banca Intesa. Critics have accused Berlusconi of grandstanding on the issue, saying had there been a possible Italian option to save Alitalia it would already have emerged. | |
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Will Alitalia stay Italian?
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| An Italian court on Wednesday rejected a suit filed by Air One to suspend the exclusive takeover talks of Alitalia to the Air France-KLM group ahead of a final verdict. The court must still rule on whether Alitalia can continue negotiating with Air France-KLM on an exclusive basis or whether Air One can reenter the race with a new offer. Alitalia selected Air France-KLM as its preferred bidder for the airline’s sale. This move was in turn backed by the Italian government, which has a 50% stake in the airline. Air One filed suit against Alitalia on January 31st of this year, arguing that they should be allowed to submit a bid as well. | |
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 Alitalia’s (Rome) future ownership fate may be delayed once again. An administrative court in Lazio, Italy which is hearing the lawsuit filed by rival Air One (Rome) has instructed all parties not to take any actions until the court can hear the arguments of Air One on February 20. Air One wants to be a part of the government’s private negotiations with the Air France-KLM Group. Air One also wants to make a counter offer to keep the government’s 49.9 percent ownership share of AZ in Italian hands. Air One has stated its bid will also be open to domestic and foreign investors. It also has the backing of Italian bank Intesa Sanpaolo. Air One’s efforts are gaining political support, especially in northern Italy. In essence, the negotiations are frozen until at least February 20. Copyright Photo: McDonnell Douglas DC-9-82 I-DACP (msn 49973) is pictured at Rome (Fiumicino) in 2000 when it was painted in the promotional scheme for Renault’s Scenic automobile. (Aldo Bidini/Italian Spotting Group) | |
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 Alitalia (Rome) has released its future unused slots at Milan’s Malpensa Airport before the January 31 deadline. The airline is downsizing its Malpensa hub during the summer period from March 30 through October 25, 2008. Air One has political support in the northern part of Italy for its bid for the government’s share of the Italian flag carrier. There is a lot of resentment of AZ’s decision to pull back at MXP in northern Italy. Copyright Photo: We have a historical shot of Alitalia’s McDonnell Douglas DC-9-82 I-DAVZ (msn 49970) when it displayed this special McDonald’s promotional livery introduced in March 2000. It prepares to land at Rome (Fiumicino). (Aldo Bidini) | |
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 Air One (Italy) (Rome) has filed a lawsuit in Italy to gain access to the exclusive acquisition talks between the Italian government and Air France-KLM. The Air France-KLM Group was selected over Air One to start negotiations for the 49.9 percent share of Alitalia (Rome) owned by the Italian government. Air One wants transparency in the takeover process and would like to be able to present a binding offer. Meanwhile Alitalia has publicly stated that any delay in this process will translate into the need for a critical cash infusion of at least $1.1 billion by the middle of 2008 in order to remain in the air. Copyright Photo: Air One’s Airbus A320-216 EI-DSG (msn 3115) is seen in action at Rome (Fiumicino). (Aldo Bidini/Italian Spotting Group) | |
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 Alitalia’s (Rome) board on Friday (December 21) chose the bid by the Air France-KLM group as the preferred buyer for the government’s 49.9% stake in the Italian airline. The board believes the AF-KL bid is a better fit. However the final decision will be up to the ministers in the government and that decision will not be made until early January. Copyright Photo: Airbus A321-112 I-BIXU (msn 434) in the revised livery departs from Rome (Fiumicino). (Aldo Bidini/Italian Spotting Group) | |
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 Alitalia (Rome) will have to wait until next week to learn what the Italian government intends to do with its 49.9% share of the flag carrier. The ministers under Prime Minister Romano Prodi were unable to decide this week on which offer to accept. The government has put off until next Tuesday on who will buy the government’s share of the ailing airline. The ministers are torn between picking Italian carrier Air One (Rome) (the local Italian solution that will keep AZ in Italian hands) and Air France-KLM Group (Paris and Amsterdam) (the foreign solution that will turn around AZ). The Italian government also stated it has received a late bid from a group that includes Singapore Airlines (Singapore). Singapore has emphatically denied it is part of a group wanting to bid for AZ. Stay tuned - this Italian saga is not over. Copyright Photo: Alitalia’s McDonnell Douglas DC-9-82 (MD-82) I-DACN (msn 49972) was the first airliner to sport the new revised look. It prepares to land at Rome (Fiumicino-Leonardo da Vinci). (Aldo Bidini) | |
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 Alitalia (Rome) through the Italian government may be leaning towards favoring the Air France-KLM bid over the Air One bid and a third bid led by an Italian lawyer. Alitalia’s chairman Maurizio Prato said the Air France-KLM bid for the government’s 49.9% share of Alitalia and recovery plan is based on Alitalia’s own restructuring program. He further stated there are still question marks surrounding the Air One proposal. This may be a public way of justifying the foreign plan over a domestic offer. Lufthansa previously pulled out of the final bidding. Copyright Photo: Airbus A319-112 I-BIMB (msn 2033) of Alitalia departs from Manchester. (Rob Skinkis) | |
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