Alitalia (AZA, Rome Fiumicino) Chief Executive Officer Silvano Cassano says Milan Malpensa will be the primary hub for the airline's revitalized cargo operations.
"We have to develop the cargo (operations), we are negotiating with (Milan airport authority) SEA and we are pleased with the development we want to bring to this airport," he was quoted by Italy's ANSA news service.
The Italian carrier operated a fleet of five dedicated MD-11(F) freighters until the 2008 economic crisis rendered them uneconomical. Following their retirement in January 2009, all subsequent freight was moved via the belly-hold on Alitalia passenger jets and later on, through Air France (AF, Paris CDG) and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL, Amsterdam Schiphol) aircraft as well.
Though Cargoitalia (Milan Malpensa) attempted to plug the gap, even announcing plans to order five A330-200Fs, it too failed leaving Italy's market to Cargolux (CV, Luxembourg) (which has established Cargolux Italia (C8, Milan Malpensa)), Germany's Lufthansa Cargo (LH, Frankfurt International), and recent entrant, SW Italia (Milan Malpensa) which is a subsidiary of Azerbaijan's Silk Way Airlines (ZP, Baku Heydar Aliev International).
Recognizing Italy's position as Europe's third largest cargo market, Etihad Airways (EY, Abu Dhabi International) made Alitalia Cargo's revitalization a priority when it acquired a 49% stake in the Italian carrier last year.
Along with the establishment of a Centre of Excellence in Northern Italy, Etihad is also planning to upgrade handling capabilities at Italian airports while establishing an integrated cargo network.
