The FINANCIAL -- The Board of Directors of Alitalia – Compagnia Aerea Italiana gave green light to the project for integration with Blue Panorama Airlines, on the basis of the contents of the memorandum of understanding signed by the two companies.

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 Blue Panorama have synergy potentials and are complementary with regard to product specialisation, network design and served market segments.

Founded in 1998 with bases in Rome Fiumicino and Milan Malpensa, Blue Panorama operates scheduled and charter flights: InterContinental routes are operated under the Blue Panorama brand whereas short and medium haul flights are operated under the Blu-Express brand. In 2011, Blue Panorama transported around 2 million passengers with a fleet of 12 Boeing aircraft of which 6 “wide bodies”.

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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