The FINANCIAL -- The Board of Directors of Alitalia – Compagnia Aerea Italiana gave green light to the project for integration with Wind Jet, on the basis of the contents of the memorandum of understanding signed by the two companies on 20 January, according to Alitalia.

The integration project is consistent with the national and international consolidation processes under way in the air transport sector. Such processes are meant to enhance the industrial size of carriers, increase their competitiveness and develop their ability to cope with the evolution of the macroeconomic context.

Through the synergies made possible by the integration, there will be increased opportunities for Italian
customers, and Italy will more easily attract international tourism.

Alitalia and Wind Jet have synergy potentials and are complementary with regard to local reach,network and fleet design.Founded in 2003, Wind Jet is now the sixth Italian carrier in terms of domestic market share (6.2% in2011), with operational bases in Catania, Palermo and Rimini, a fleet of 12 Airbus aircraft for scheduled
flights and more than 2.8 million transported passengers in 2011.

Founded in January 2009, the Alitalia Group is the main Italian carrier, with operational bases in Rome,
Milan, Turin, Venice, Bari and Catania, a fleet of 144 aircraft and around 25 million transported passengers in 2011.

Next steps will first be submitted to the Antitrust Authority for its authorisation and then presented to the governing bodies of the two companies.

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