ItAli Airlines
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Founded | 2003 | ||||||
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Ceased operations | 11 March 2011 | ||||||
Hubs | Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino International Airport | ||||||
Frequent-flyer program | ItAli Sky Pass | ||||||
Airport lounge | Club ItAli VIP | ||||||
Fleet size | 11 | ||||||
Destinations | 5 (scheduled) | ||||||
Parent company | Aeroservices Group | ||||||
Headquarters | Rome, Italy | ||||||
Key people | Giuseppe Spadaccini | ||||||
Website | www.italiweb.it |
ItAli Airlines S.p.A. was an airline based in Rome. It operated regional scheduled, charter and cargo services, as well as air taxi flights. Its main base was Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino International Airport, Rome.[1]
History
The airline started operations in October 2003 and is wholly owned by Giuseppe Spadaccini.[1] It is the new name for the former TAI – Transporti Aerei Italiani and the former Air Columbia and was operating two Fairchild Metro aircraft from Pescara to Milan and Rome in April 2004 (replaced by a Dornier 328Jet in January 2005 and a second one in August 2005). In July 2004 a Pescara to Olbia route was opened with a Dornier 328-110 wet-leased from Air Alps. ItAli Airlines connected Pescara airport with the main Italian airports to feed national and international flights and some international destinations, particularly the daily service to Milan-Linate Airport is still operated with Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner.
Line activity, operated with Dornier 328Jet, has dwindled in favor of charter/ACMI flights, operated with McDonnell Douglas MD-82, mainly from bases at Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport and Milan-Malpensa Airport.
At the beginning of the Summer 2009 was created the Air Taxi sector of the company on Rome Ciampino Airport with secondary base on Milan-Linate Airport in order to increase Cessna fleet operations. The flights are sold under the brand of MustFly, a subsidiary of ItAli Airlines. MustFly aircraft operate as General aviation under ItAli Airlines Air Operator's Certificate, including two Dornier 328Jet specially reconfigured to 19 seats.
On 21 October 2010, Mr Giuseppe Spadaccini, ItAli Airlines owner, and other 12 people have been arrested by Pescara's Guardia di Finanza on suspicion of international tax evasion (around 90 million euros globally).[2][3]
On 11 March 2011, the Italian Aviation Authority (ENAC) suspended the air operator's certificate due to the persistence of some critical issues from the carrier.[4]
Destinations
During Winter Season 2010, ItAli Airlines served the following scheduled destinations:[5]
Europe
- Genoa -Genoa Airport (Key Airport)
- Milan - Linate Airport
- Reggio Calabria - Reggio Calabria Airport (Key Airport)
- Rome - Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport (Hub)
Fleet
The ItAli Airlines fleet consisted of the following aircraft at the time of closure:[6]
Aircraft | Total |
---|---|
Cessna Citation 500 | 1 |
Cessna Citation Mustang | 5 |
McDonnell Douglas MD-82 | 5 |
Total | 11 |
ItAli Airlines had placed an order for 10 Sukhoi Superjet 100-95 aircraft which were expected to be in service around mid-2010.[8] This order also included 10 options. However, in January 2011, the ItAli's firm order had been dropped from Superjet International's order book.[9]
References
- 1 2 "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International. 3 April 2007. p. 95.
- ↑ Avionews Spadaccini's case. Italian GdF: "The societies involved all linked to the air transport world"
- ↑ ANSA Evasione fiscale da 90 milioni di euro
- ↑ AvioNews Italian ENAC suspended flight license to ItAli Airlines
- ↑ ItAli Timetable winter 2010
- ↑ "ItAli Airlines - Fleet". ItAli Airlines. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
- ↑ http://www.planespotters.net/Production_List/Country/Albania
- ↑ "Superjet pushes back first delivery for Western launch customer". Flightglobal.com. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
- ↑ "Superjet Western launch customer ItAli dropped from order book". Flightglobal.com. Retrieved 19 January 2011.