Doha                                                                                                                                                                                      14 May 2018

Air Italy marked it's history in Italian aviation with the touchdown of its Boeing B737 Max in new livery at Milan-Malpensa Airport.

Present on the occasion of first B737 Max delivery at the Boeing Everett Delivery Centre in Seattle were dignitaries from Air Italy and Qatar Airways. Upon arriving of the aircraft in Milan, it was greeted by a celebratory water cannon salute.

Delegates on board the flight included Akbar Al Baker, Group CEO, Qatar Airways,  Marco Rigotti, Chairman of Alisarda and AQA Holding, Sultan Allana, Director of Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) and AQA Holding Board Member and Francesco Violante, Chairman of Air Italy.

On arrival at Milan, They were received by Abdulaziz bin Ahmed Al Malki Al Jehni, Qatar ambassador to Italy, Pasquale Salzano, Italian ambassador to Qatar, Mrs. Elisabeth Martinez, US Consul General To Italy, Pietro Modiano, Chairman of Milan-Malpensa Airport, and Antonio de Palmas, Chairman of Boeing Italia,

Akbar Al Baker, said on the occasion “It is truly a remarkable moment to be witnessing the launch of a new era in Italian aviation. The touchdown of Air Italy’s first Boeing B737 Max in new livery at Milan marks the beginning of a new travel experience for the people of Italy. Not only are we pleased to be part of this memorable moment, but we are delighted to be supporting it by leasing Air Italy with five Airbus A330-200 aircraft this year from the Qatar Airways fleet.”

The new Boeing 737 Max aircraft feature modern and spacious cabins, superior operating economics and a greater fuel efficiency. The aircraft type will feature Business Class seating and will replace Air Italy’s existing Boeing 737NGs.

The inaugural aircraft is the first of nearly 50 new aircraft that will be added to the Air Italy fleet by 2022. This is the first of 20 brand new Boeing B737 Max aircraft that will join the airline over the next three years.

Air Italy will also lease five Airbus A330-200 aircraft this year from Qatar Airways’ fleet, prior to these being further replaced by Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft. Qatar Airways previously strengthened its commitment to Italy in 2017 with the acquisition of 49 per cent of AQA Holding, the new parent company of Air Italy, while the previous sole shareholder Alisarda kept 51 per cent.

Network destinations will also enjoy continued expansion, with new long-range routes from Milan to New York, Miami, Bangkok and Mumbai already announced. Air Italy this month also inaugurated short-haul routes connecting Milan to Rome, Naples, Palermo and Olbia. Additional routes from Milan to the Sicilian east coastal city of Catania and Lamezia Terme in Calabria will commence on 1 July and 1 September respectively.

Further plans also include strengthening the short-range network to improve connectivity and launching the first long-range destination from Rome Fiumicino in 2019. Air Italy aims to fly more than 50 year-round routes by 2022