Summary
- ITA Airways is considering halting operations at Milan Malpensa Airport as a consequence of the unprofitability of its JFK-MXP route, which faces strong competition.
- The airline will proceed operating the JFK-MXP route until January 15 next 12 months, but may change ticket sales beyond that.
- ITA Airways has been decreasing its presence at Malpensa in recent times, with operations now representing just 0.5% of offered seats on the airport.
The flag carrier of Italy, ITA Airways, has been conducting internal discussions concerning the potential of halting operations at Milan Malpensa International Airport (MXP). The airline currently only operates one flight out of the biggest international airport in Northern Italy. This flight connects Milan Malpensa Airport to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in Latest York.
Potentially leaving the airport
ITA Airways has not made a final decision concerning the status of its operations at Malpensa, although the ultimate decision must be made inside the following week. The airline would proceed running its JFK-MXP route through the tip of the 12 months and would go away the airport on January 15 next 12 months. Currently, the airline has flight tickets on sale for this route into 2024, although this will change.
Photo: SimoneAmi | Shutterstock
Ita Airways would consider leaving the airport largely as a consequence of the route being operated as a loss. This route is seen as one in every of the transatlantic routes that reach the very best revenues in Italy. Nevertheless, the connection to Latest York can be run by six other airlines, if Newark International Airport (EWR) is taken into account as well. This increased competition on the route has made this route not profitable for ITA Airways.
The operation, which is run as AZ 604 and AZ 605, is a each day service. ITA Airways typically flies this eight-hour route with one in every of its Airbus A330 aircraft. This aircraft holds roughly 256 passengers in three classes, business class, premium economy, and regular economy.
Thus far this 12 months, the airline has flown 173,500 seats on this route. ITA Airways is the third-ranked airline by way of passengers transported between Malpensa and Latest York. It also represents 13% of all seats that connect Malpensa and Latest York. Emirates, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and United Airlines each offer more seats on this route.
Photo: SimoneAmi | Shutterstock
Nevertheless, ITA Airways is ranked fifth when considering revenue on this route. Emirates has the very best revenue, reaching 110 million Euros ($118 million) from ticket sales. ITA Airways only reported a revenue of 16 million Euros ($17.1 million) from ticket sales.
ITA Airways didn’t immediately respond for comment.
Decrease in airport operations
The airline has steadily been limiting its services at Malpensa over the past several years. Last 12 months, the airline’s operations at Malpensa represented just 0.5% of the offered seats on the airport. Nevertheless, this market share was roughly 4% ten years ago. Alitalia, now ITA Airways, represented nearly 60% of the share of seats in 2004.
The airline will still utilize Malpensa as a hub for cargo services. ITA Airways will proceed utilizing Milan Linate Airport (LIN) on this area for business flights. The airline holds nearly 60% of the slots on Linate.
The news of this discussion comes after the news of several latest route offerings for the Italian airline. Last week, ITA Airways inaugurated its latest nonstop service between Rome and Rio de Janeiro. This route is obtainable 14 times per week. Earlier this summer, the airline also began a brand new route from Rome to San Francisco. This route is operated five times per week.
Source: Corriere della Sera