Rotterdam: Following the closure of Italy's new flag carrier Alitalia and its 74 year history, Italy's new national airline, ITA Airways, flew its inaugural flight from Linate airport to the italian town of Bari on Friday.
Alitalia's closing was marked by strikes, as the much smaller ITA Airways is hiring only about 25 percent of Alitalia's more than 10,000 employees. ITA paid over $104 million for the rights to the Alitalia brand and website, but the new airline is called ITA Airways, which has its own website as well as a new frequent fly program named Volare Fly Discontinuity doesn't mean denying the past, but evolving to keep up with the times, ITA President Alfredo Altavilla said in a statement.
During a conference launching the airline, Altavilla insisted that ITA's low-cost fleet, workforce and destinations make it a viable carrier that can compete with low-cost airlines while offering better service, connections and value.
ITA is flying to 44 destinations and aims to increase that number of destinations to 74 within four years. Its planes will be royal blue with Alitalia's trademark threecolore on the tail, reflecting the red, white and green of the Italian flag.
ITA has 52 aircraft, but said it will grow to 105 within four years. It is currently pointing out alternatives to the sustainable fuel options for aircraft that are used in next generation aircraft.
The company has begun operating with 2,800 employees - 70 percent of them from Alitalia - and said it expects to increase the size of its workforce to 5,750 by 2025.