(10 February 2016) “This new flight will add to a new service in May to Santiago and complement our existing routes to Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires. We aim to become the leading air carrier on routes to Latin America, an important area for Italy,” explains Alitalia Chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, announcing the direct connection from Rome to Mexico City, which will start on June 16, thus strengthening further Alitalia’s number of long-haul flights in an area where “we see growth – adds Montezemolo – and an opportunity both in business and in leisure”. A taste of the new flight is scheduled on 12 February when Alitalia will operate a special flight to Mexico City for Pope Francis to one of the biggest Catholic countries in the world. “The launch of the new flight – explains a note by the Italian company – is the result of a great joint effort between Mexican and Italian authorities, in particular the Mexican Minister of Transport Gerardo Ruiz Esparza, the Italian Foreign Ministry and the Embassies of the two countries in Rome and in Mexico City.” Ruiz Esparza also welcomed the new flight announcement: “The Mexican Government, through the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation, believes that the successful conclusion of negotiations between the Mexican and Italian aeronautical authorities for the launch of new Mexico City-Rome direct service is part of President of Mexico Peña Nieto’s strategy to consider as a top priority the consolidation of economic, touristic and cultural ties between the two countries”. (Red)
