SU wants to purchase AZ
 

Today SU officially declared itself as the partner of an Italian bank, Unicredit, in the entity created as one of the still running potential buyer of AZ.


http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/...y-Alitalia.php

The article mentions other bidders....who else is bidding besides SU and AF?

Airone (backed by LH possibly) and the newly merged Intesa-SanPaolo.

double post...

I'm not sure that AF is a bidder...quite the opposite.

Well, it will keep AZ in SkyTeam, and create another strong, large member of the alliance. It will make for strong EU-Russia-China routing. The Russians certainly have the deep pockets to pull this off.

What is SU customer service like? And how are they on maintenance issues? What happens when you combine Russian and Italian customer service?

SU Customer service in Bishkek and Moscow has been good. Maintenance I have no clue. They do have some nice Boeings and Airbuses so it beats the old ILs and Tupolevs.

The Italian FAs ignore you and when you complain the Russians beat the crap out of you.

One rather amusing comment from a friend on another list -

>> would it be mean to suggest natural synergies in the mafia business?

No. Mafias run profitable businesses. I doubt that is going to happen, unless the cargo loads will be ex-URSS weapons or atomic waste! :D

:D :D :D

Of course, they might add a new F class above Magnifica; the Russian Mafiosi and Oligarchs have a real taste for bling bling glitz. They'll pay €25k cash for a seat from SVO to their summer villas in Forte de Marmi or Positano if you treat them right. (they'll book the whole compartment for their entourage)

I love it! ^

At least Skyteam would only have one airline I'd go to enormous lengths to avoid flying rather than two.

Regarding to the SU fleet, I can just add that it is in large expansion and renovation.
This year, on March 22nd, Aeroflot signed a protocol with Airbus for the delivery of 22 Airbus 350 XWB aircraft starting in 2014. Meanwhile, SU will order 15 Airbus 330s. The first 2 deliveries of 330s are due this year 2007.

As security and maintenance are concerned, I suggest you to read about skyteam agreements and rules. If it takes so long for a new airline to join Skyteam alliance, this is because of numerous requirements, such as e-ticketing, backoffice mainframe compatibility with other members, codesharing agreements, anti-trust regulators/authorities clearance, convergence with other members of its customer services and quality of services and facilities for ST airline members and ST travellers at its domestic hub, and of course excellence in quality management related with airframes maintenance etc etc etc ...

You can't imagine a full member of skyteam having maintenance problem/negligence followed with an inflight technical incident. Skyteam would not tolerate any error on this matter. It is about the image of skyteam itself, thus of all its members. Everybody would lose a lot if one member misses its duty.

So believe me, any negative statement related on Aeroflot maintenance or security is passeist and not relevant now a day. Of course SU still have some old airframes, other airlines also have, but even if they are not really confortable aircrafts, SU is not playing with security keeping them on its routes.
Of course management in Alitalia may look like a bit more hectic than in other airlines ... but not to say that it is much risky to fly with Alitalia than others...
Any statement on that way would be subjective and nothing objective.

Clearly, SU will have to work on its image on western potential customers. It will take some time.
However, people, supposed to be aware about aviation industry such as those reading this thread, should understand this "change" without a need of marketing exposition or communication campaigns.


Jer

Air France? Where they serve vaccum packed peanuts to Business Class passengers and the BC food is worse than US airlines?

Other than the lack of ISE on the Alitalia flights (BOS <-> MXP), I've been very happy with them. And any flight I don't have to do thru CDG (or LHR) is a big win.