Milan Malpensa Airport News

Air France cuts Milan Malpensa services

Air France is reducing its summer 2010 schedule from Milan Malpensa airport to Paris CDG.

The airline has cut the Milan Malpensa to Paris CDG service from 6 to 4 flights per day reducing seat capacity by 30%.

The canceled services are the AF1415 and AF2015.

Air France will increase its summer service from Milan Linate to Paris CDG from 2 to 3 flights per day operating the following schedule

AF1212 CDG0715 – 0845LIN 32S D

AF1712 CDG1325 – 1500LIN 320 D

AF2112 CDG1815 – 1945LIN 320 D

AF1213 LIN1010 – 1140CDG 32S D

AF1713 LIN1555 – 1725CDG 320 D

AF2113 LIN2035 – 2205CDG 320 D

Air France KLM Alitalia

Air France KLM, Europe’s largest airline, last week completed the acquisition of a 25% stake in Alitalia for €260 million.

Sabelli said Air France KLM also is planning a multi hub strategy based on Paris Charles de Gaulle, Amsterdam Schiphol and Milan Malpensa.

Alitalia already operates long haul passenger flights, with freight capacity from Malpensa to the US, Japan and Brazil, and could add further services to the US, Argentina, and China if the tri-hub strategy is adopted, Sabelli said.

Alitalia grounded its five MD-11 freighters in January after CAI, the new owners declined to take on its unprofitable cargo operation.

Foreign airlines moved into Italy’s cargo market, Europe’s second largest after Germany, following the demise of Alitalia Cargo.

Lufthansa Cargo, Air France-KLM’s closest European rival, began twice weekly freighter services between Malpensa, New York and Chicago in February and its recently established Italian unit also is carrying freight on domestic services.

Cargolux, the Luxembourg-based all-cargo carrier, has established an Italian subsidiary and is awaiting regulatory approval to start long haul flights from Malpensa. Service is expected to start in April.