Italian Civil Aviation Authority set to approve Italia Trasporto Aereo

In the coming days, the Italian Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC) is planning to approve Italia Trasporto Aereo (ITA), which could allow the new airline to sell airfares for routes later this year. The new carrier is also planning to undertake two technical flights on Monday, August 16th in order to obtain its Air Operators Certificate (AOC). In order to do so, the new airline will be using an Airbus A330 and A320 borrowed from Alitalia.

According to the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, the newly formed public company that will go on to replace Alitalia could be allowed to sell tickets from August 18th through a provisional website and for routes that are scheduled from October 15th. However, in order for Italia Trasporto Aereo (ITA) to be able to put its flights on sale, Alitalia will be required to remove all scheduled routes from October 15th onwards from its own website.

However, Codacons, which is an association that advocates for consumer rights in Italy, criticised the arrangement. The consumer association is calling on both companies to provide consumers with adequate and correct information to potential travellers who may be unaware that there will be a changeover from Alitalia to Italia Trasporto Aereo (ITA).

Meanwhile, the Italian government has allocated a €100 million fund to refund passengers who have purchased an Alitalia ticket for flights after the cessation date of October 15th. According to sources at the Corriere della Sera, the paper estimates that Alitalia might have to reimburse at least 255,000. There are other problems such as when Alitalia does cease operations there could be a domino effect for office workers and for in employees in VIP lounges, who could be left without pay.

Last week, the Regional Administrative Court rejected Ryanair’s request to postpone a new air travel measure requiring airlines in Italy to offer free allocated seats to minors and persons with reduced mobility near parents and/or carers.

Following that ruling, the measure regarding the free allocation of seats to minors and disabled persons next to parents and accompanying persons is scheduled to come into force from August 15th. Should passengers notice that this measure is not being complied with, they can make a complaint using an online passenger rights form which can be found on the ENAC’s (Italian Civil Aviation Authority) website.

Source: https://aeronewsx.com/italian-civil-aviation-authority-set-to-approve-italia-trasporto-aereo/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=italian-civil-aviation-authority-set-to-approve-italia-trasporto-aereo