Alitalia on course to return to black in 2017

Alitalia has unveiled a series of customer service enhancements that will improve the travel experience for air passengers.

The national airline of Italy also confirmed that its three-year business plan was on track for profitability by 2017.

Alitalia chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo and vice chairman of James Hogan earlier revealed the details of a range of new initiatives that will be introduced in the next few weeks.

Two new long haul destinations, the first chauffeur service for business travellers, the opening of new VIP lounges and the refurbishment of existing ones at airports, new cabin interiors and Internet and email connectivity on board, as well as a focus on improving customer service at Fiumicino airport, are the highlights that were announced.

The airline yesterday briefed 2,000 staff at a special meeting in Rome.

di Montezemolo said: “Our performance is in line with the business plan. And, for the first time since 2009, the load factor for the quarter exceeded 80 per cent and we are on track to meet our objective of reaching profitability by 2017.

“We are announcing today two new destinations in Latin America, new services for business customers, significant investment in ground services at Fiumicino airport and an aggressive program to improve the medium-haul fleet.

“These will be introduced shortly and will help to transform the travel experience for customers flying with Alitalia.”

Under the plans Alitalia will start flights from Rome Fiumicino to Santiago in Chile from May 2016, and to Mexico City from June 2016.

With the two new services, Alitalia will operate five Latin American routes and a total of ten in the Americas, consolidating its leadership on the transatlantic routes from Italy.

The interiors of the medium-haul aircraft, as well as the long-haul aircraft, will be completely retro-fitted with leather seats and new cabin refurbishments.

The program will start in November and will be completed in spring 2016.

The airline is evaluating options to expand its long-haul fleet, which will see next year’s long-haul capacity increase by more than 20 per cent compared to last year.

A new complimentary executive car chauffeur service for business class customers travelling to Abu Dhabi from Rome, Milan and Venice, as well as to New York JFK from Rome and Milan, will also be introduced.