What are Alitalia's new destinations?
In 2011, we opened a number of new routes, the most important of which were intercontinental connections to Beijing and Rio de Janeiro, operated from our Rome hub since June. We also opened a Rome-Toulouse flight. This means we can now offer two daily flights to this destination thanks to our code-share with Air France. There's also a lot of news from our subsidiary Air One, with the opening of a new base in Pisa in July and the launch of new destinations from the Malpensa base: Crete, Menorca, Zagreb, Prague and Rhodes.
How are you working with Air France?
On the France-Italy routes, we are in a full joint venture. All flights are code-shared, with the same fares. But year on year, we are strengthening our partnership. In July 2010 we joined the transatlantic joint venture with Air France-KLM and Delta. All flights are code-share; all fares can be combined, with a panel of 150 daily flights to North America: a real advantage for companies. And with the same partners, we have launched joint corporate contracts in France. You specialise in the Mediterranean basin.
Has the geopolitical context had a negative impact on your business?
Some destinations, like Algiers for example, have not suffered. On the other hand, others, where we were in a strong position, were more affected, such as Damascus and Libya, obviously. But we have been very responsive.
