Seat occupancy numbers on Alitalia improve

www.alitalia.com

Seat occupancy rates on Italian carrier Alitalia have risen from 43 per cent when the airline was relaunched in January to around 65 per cent at the current time. According to the airline’s chairman, the rate is near Alitalia’s break-even point.

Chairman Roberto Colaninno, in comments to Italian newspaper La Repubblica, denied reports that airline was in need of further recapitalisation and also denied that it would hand over a larger stake in the carrier to Air France-KLM.

Air France-KLM acquired a 25 percent stake in the relaunched airline in January, helping the bankrupt carrier transform into a smaller, regional airline with a reduced workforce. Formerly a state-owned business, the airline came under the control of Italian investment consortium, CAI.

“We started off in January with only 43 out of 100 seats occupied. Now we are at a quota of 65-66 percent, just under the level of 67-68 percent which is breakeven point,” Colaninno added. “The accounts are in line with the budget.”

The chairman went on to say that the main objective of the airline was to control the domestic air travel sector in Italy. Currently, its market share stands at approximately 62 per cent, which is an increase from 54 per cent in January. Italy represents Europe’s fourth largest travel market.

Jean-Cyril Spinetta, the Air France-KLM chief executive, said at a news conference last week that Alitalia’s financial condition at present was stronger than expected.

www.alitalia.com