Rumor: Alitalia to Pull Out of Milan–Malpensa (MXP)?
Jan 9, 2017, 11:53 am
#1
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Rumor: Alitalia to Pull Out of Milan–Malpensa (MXP)?
From the Point Me To The Plane" blog:
According to a former consulting buddy who now works in a top level position within the European aviation industry, Alitalia will officially be pulling out of Milan-Malpensa (MXP) airport. Apparently, the carrier will continue to operate domestic flights from nearby Milan Linate (LIN). Meanwhile, all international flights will operate non-stop via Rome or via an Abu Dhabi / Etihad connection.
The change seems almost counterintuitive as for years the rumors have been the complete opposite – the carrier would pull out of tourist heavy Rome (besides a few seasonal summer flights) and would instead focus on the higher revenue business traffic to Milan. This change would mark the end of Alitalia’s Milan service to both New York and Tokyo.
The airport itself would continue to have multiple flights to the US, a very large European presence, and non-stop international flights to Hong Kong (Cathay), São Paulo (LATAM), Delhi (Air India), Shanghai (Air China), and Zanzibar (Neos) among others.
I haven’t been able to validate the rumor with a second source and a simple search currently only brings up an Airliners.net thread started by VCEflyboy.
The change seems almost counterintuitive as for years the rumors have been the complete opposite – the carrier would pull out of tourist heavy Rome (besides a few seasonal summer flights) and would instead focus on the higher revenue business traffic to Milan. This change would mark the end of Alitalia’s Milan service to both New York and Tokyo.
The airport itself would continue to have multiple flights to the US, a very large European presence, and non-stop international flights to Hong Kong (Cathay), São Paulo (LATAM), Delhi (Air India), Shanghai (Air China), and Zanzibar (Neos) among others.
I haven’t been able to validate the rumor with a second source and a simple search currently only brings up an Airliners.net thread started by VCEflyboy.
Jan 9, 2017, 1:45 pm
#2
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Rumours were spread days ago by a couple of sources on the most followed Italian aviation forum (aviazionecivile.org). Sadly, possibly anyone could see this coming, mainly considering the current financial state of the airline and the overall feeling that those couple of services [currently operating out of MXP] didn't really make a great deal of sense given, again, the current state-of-play in terms of financial resources and the next-to-nil impact from a virtually non-existing feeder network, with FCO being the core of AZ's operations.
Whilst we're at it, I feel it is worth recalling AZ's robust network out of MXP up to a few years ago (with my apologies if I've missed anything), when the main hub was based in Milan itself:
BIO MRS CDG AMS BRU TXL DUS STR MUC ZRH GVA VIE PRG BUD BEG MSQ LED KBP SVO IST OTP SOF GOA FLR BLQ AOI PEG BZO MAD BCN VLC AGP LIS LYS NCE LHR CPH ARN FRA ZAG SPU WAW SJJ TSR SKP KRK PVG MLA ATH SKG DKR ACC via LOS ITM DEL BOM DAM BEY IKA DXB MIA ORD EWR BOS YYZ CCS EZE JFK GRU
G
Whilst we're at it, I feel it is worth recalling AZ's robust network out of MXP up to a few years ago (with my apologies if I've missed anything), when the main hub was based in Milan itself:
BIO MRS CDG AMS BRU TXL DUS STR MUC ZRH GVA VIE PRG BUD BEG MSQ LED KBP SVO IST OTP SOF GOA FLR BLQ AOI PEG BZO MAD BCN VLC AGP LIS LYS NCE LHR CPH ARN FRA ZAG SPU WAW SJJ TSR SKP KRK PVG MLA ATH SKG DKR ACC via LOS ITM DEL BOM DAM BEY IKA DXB MIA ORD EWR BOS YYZ CCS EZE JFK GRU
G
Jan 9, 2017, 2:14 pm
#4
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Jan 10, 2017, 1:13 am
#6
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Jan 10, 2017, 8:32 am
#7
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Any ideas when this might happen? I just booked JFK-MXP on Alitalia for April 1.
If they get rid of that route, do you think I'd be put on JFK-FCO-LIN? Further, I booked this on Delta's website, taking advantage of a $200 voucher that I had.
TIA
If they get rid of that route, do you think I'd be put on JFK-FCO-LIN? Further, I booked this on Delta's website, taking advantage of a $200 voucher that I had.
TIA
Jan 10, 2017, 8:44 am
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Jan 10, 2017, 9:06 am
#10
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Jan 10, 2017, 9:13 am
#11
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Just wonderful (heavy sarcasm). I have tickets to the matinee of Hamilton in NYC that day and thought I'd timed it perfectly. I would not be able to make the Delta flight as I couldn't get to JFK in time. Hopefully, they'd refund the ticket. I'm guessing the joke will be on me and I'm screwed. I'd be able to make the Emirates flight, as it leave much later.
Last edited by farbster; Jan 10, 2017 at 9:13 am Reason: add sarcasm note
Jan 10, 2017, 1:51 pm
#12
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They'll probably move you to a DL flight (primary) via AMS/CDG/MAD and/or an AF, KL, EX or AZ flight alternative which there are many later departures.
Though I'd much rather be on the EK nonstop.
Enjoy the show, it's quite good.
Though I'd much rather be on the EK nonstop.
Enjoy the show, it's quite good.
Just wonderful (heavy sarcasm). I have tickets to the matinee of Hamilton in NYC that day and thought I'd timed it perfectly. I would not be able to make the Delta flight as I couldn't get to JFK in time. Hopefully, they'd refund the ticket. I'm guessing the joke will be on me and I'm screwed. I'd be able to make the Emirates flight, as it leave much later.
Jan 24, 2017, 5:55 am
#13
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I've got a flight from PRG to NRT via LIN/MXP at the end of June. If they pull out of MXP, I guess they'll re-route me from LIN to FCO and then to NRT? Has anyone heard any more news about a date for this?
Jan 24, 2017, 6:01 am
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Jan 25, 2017, 11:35 pm
#15
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I actually hope this happens. It'd mean leaving PRG 5 hours later plus more MQMs credited to DL. The schedule goes through March, so probably somewhere in February they will release the schedule for April onwards, right? Maybe somewhere around then they'll say something if they decide to pull out of MXP.