By Joseph M. Calisi ©2021 All Rights Reserved
November 24, 2021 –
Codesharing is a tactic airlines use to fill planes on a single flight instead of having 2 half-full flights. The latest pair of airlines engaging in this pattern of operation is Italy’s newest airline, ITA, with one of the largest airlines flying in the USA, Delta. In the effort for full disclosure, Delta was interested in Alitalia a couple of years ago when the Italian flag carrier was its future was up in the air.
Now for the process for Delta and ITA to obtain permission to make this deal, they need to obtain permission from the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT). This strategic partnership involves linking flight opportunities in each other’s country and includes marketing opportunities within Italy, the USA and other international flights such as Egypt or Tunisia. Reciprocally, ITA could take advantage of Delta’s international routes terminating in Amsterdam and Paris.
In the effort of full disclosure, Delta and Alitalia had a codesharing agreement before the former national flag fell.
In another piece of news, as a part of ITA’s purchase, the ‘SkyTeam’ membership arrangement Alitalia had was absorbed by ITA and remains in effect, another boon with its flight partners. ITA is also looking to make operational connections with other airlines like Lufthansa, another airline that was interested in Alitalia a couple of years ago.
(In the photo above, Alitalia plane in SkyTeam livery at Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci/Fiumicino Airport.)