Originally Posted by
Bukhara
BA has just announced a codeshare with Meridiana (IG) on its LGW-FLR route. It's not an airline you hear much of when it comes to alliance membership but, in terms of what's left in Europe, it is probably one of the best left. Meridiana already codeshares with AY and IB, plus KL (according to Wikipedia) so it would seem well placed for potential membership.
Given that the central Europe block is essentially closed off by the Lufthansa family, Meridiana wouldn't be a bad compromise for southern central Europe, especially if it came packaged together with Eurofly.
Meridiana and Finnair are intensifying their co-operation. Meridiana will start flying directly from Florence to Helsinki some time in the end of March replacing AY Helsinki-Pisa seasonal flights. I think this is the first time there will be a scheduled flight to Finland by an Italian carrier (the only exception was when Volareweb flew a couple of months between Helsinki and Milan)