Air Italy (Milan Malpensa) has inked a code-share agreement with its equity partner Qatar Airways (QR, Doha Hamad International) covering a total of seven domestic routes in Italy, effective April 24, 2018.
The deal includes services out of Milan Malpensa to each of Catania, Rome Fiumicino, Naples Capodichino, Olbia, Palermo International, and Lamezia Terme, as well as out of Rome Fiumicino to Olbia.
The code-share agreement between the carriers will also include Qatar Airways-operated routes from Italy to Doha Hamad International, including flights from each of Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa, Pisa, and Venice Marco Polo, as well as onward services from Qatar to each of Singapore Changi and Malé.
In 2017, Qatar Airways acquired a 49% stake in AQA Holding, the parent of Air Italy. The carrier, previously known as Meridiana fly, is set to grow its fleet this year with five ex-Qatar Airways A330-200s. The deliveries of twenty B737-8s are due to commence in April 2018, too. According to Airline Route, Air Italy plans to also use the MAX 8s for its Malpensa-Lagos-Accra-Malpensa route from October 28 replacing its B767-300(ER)s on the route.
In a related development, Air Italy will also make its Indian debut later this coming winter season following confirmation it will launch a 5x weekly Milan Malpensa-Mumbai International service on October 30, 2018. Operations are on-board A330-200 equipment
