Alitalia renewing customer service image, fleet in 2011
By Kurt Hofmann | January 21, 2011
Alitalia executives said the airline is putting its troubled past behind and is starting off 2011 by continuing to improve its customer service image and renewing its aging fleet.
It is also targeting at least 10% passenger growth this year, Executive VP and COO Giancarlo Schisano told ATW on his visit to Cairo for the release of AZ’s first Boeing 777-200ER, which was undergoing a C check at the Egyptair Maintenance & Engineering base. He said the airline will decide this year if it will replace its six 767-300ERs with 777s or Airbus A330s.
Schisano said the 2004-2008 period that saw the carrier's near-death and rebirth was "very dramatic." But since then AZ has "renewed everything," including setting a higher standard for customer service. "Our goal is to rebuild … our image," he said. Last year, the carrier posted 12% passenger growth and is targeting at least 10% growth in 2011. "Passenger numbers, reliability, load factors and image are improving," Schisano said. AZ transports around 23 million passengers annually.
He said that after a massive fleet reduction, the carrier now operates a young fleet in Europe. AZ operates 4,500 weekly flights. "The average age [of the fleet] has been reduced from 17 years down to 10," Schisano noted. AZ phased out around 60 MD-80s, with just 19 of this type left in the fleet. "Our current fleet, for example, includes 90 new or fully renewed A320 family aircraft. With the introduction of five more A319s, and completing the current delivery of 10 A330-200s, the average age goes below 10 years," he said.
The A330 deliveries will be completed by the end of 2012; three aircraft will join the fleet in 2011, the remaining four next year. Schisano said a regional fleet upgrade is also in progress, noting that AZ will next year phase out six Embraer E-170s and 10 Bombardier CRJ900s while adding five E-190s and 15 E-175s.
ATWOnline
By Kurt Hofmann | January 21, 2011
Alitalia executives said the airline is putting its troubled past behind and is starting off 2011 by continuing to improve its customer service image and renewing its aging fleet.
It is also targeting at least 10% passenger growth this year, Executive VP and COO Giancarlo Schisano told ATW on his visit to Cairo for the release of AZ’s first Boeing 777-200ER, which was undergoing a C check at the Egyptair Maintenance & Engineering base. He said the airline will decide this year if it will replace its six 767-300ERs with 777s or Airbus A330s.
Schisano said the 2004-2008 period that saw the carrier's near-death and rebirth was "very dramatic." But since then AZ has "renewed everything," including setting a higher standard for customer service. "Our goal is to rebuild … our image," he said. Last year, the carrier posted 12% passenger growth and is targeting at least 10% growth in 2011. "Passenger numbers, reliability, load factors and image are improving," Schisano said. AZ transports around 23 million passengers annually.
He said that after a massive fleet reduction, the carrier now operates a young fleet in Europe. AZ operates 4,500 weekly flights. "The average age [of the fleet] has been reduced from 17 years down to 10," Schisano noted. AZ phased out around 60 MD-80s, with just 19 of this type left in the fleet. "Our current fleet, for example, includes 90 new or fully renewed A320 family aircraft. With the introduction of five more A319s, and completing the current delivery of 10 A330-200s, the average age goes below 10 years," he said.
The A330 deliveries will be completed by the end of 2012; three aircraft will join the fleet in 2011, the remaining four next year. Schisano said a regional fleet upgrade is also in progress, noting that AZ will next year phase out six Embraer E-170s and 10 Bombardier CRJ900s while adding five E-190s and 15 E-175s.
ATWOnline
