July 23 – Alitalia will start implementing the new 2013-2016 business plan thanks to the new trade agreement with the Brazilian airline Gol, signed today in Sao Paulo by Gabriele Del Torchio, CEO of Alitalia and Paulo Sergio Kakinoff, CEO of Gol. The agreement is the first step in the development of an Alitalia intercontinental network under its new Strategic Plan, to be implemented through the strengthening of existing business partnerships and the launch of new agreements with major companies, as well as with new world destinations and with an increase in flight frequency in the countries where it is already present. This will be supported by the enlargement of the fleet, thanks to the arrival of 6 new long-haul aircrafts by 2016. The new agreement between Alitalia and Gol strengthens the former’s presence in Brazil, where the company already operates direct flights from Rome Fiumicino to Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, with Boeing B777 and Airbus A330 aircrafts, and three new service classes: Magnificent, Classic Plus and Classic. The agreement will be operational after approval of the relevant local authorities. Brazil is a growing market and Alitalia has been able to seize many opportunities for development. In 2012, it carried more than 357,000 passengers, an increase of 78% since the birth of Alitalia Cai (January 2009). In the same period, it recorded a revenue growth of 114%, from €54 million in 2009 to €116 million in 2012. Thanks to the agreement with Gol, Alitalia passengers will have access to numerous destinations in the Brazilian airline departing from the hubs of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The agreement also provides the opportunity to earn miles for the MilleMiglia Program on flights operated by the Brazilian airline.
