Air France-KLM scheme may put born-again Alitalia back into cargo

RELAUNCHED Alitalia appears to be back in the air cargo market, after its 25 per cent owner Air France-KLM announced plans of a multi-hub air freight strategy based on Paris Charles de Gaulle, Amsterdam Schiphol and Malpensa in Italy, reports AirCargo Asia Pacific, of Perth Australia.

Alitalia still has bellyhold cargo capacity from Malpensa to New York, Tokyo, and Sao Paulo, and could add services to Miami, Buenos Aires and Shanghai if the Air France-KLM tri-hub strategy is adopted, said Alitalia's chief executive Rocco Sabelli.

The former Alitalia's cargo assets, excluding freighters, are in the process of being sold to an Italian carrier for US$18 million and the country's airfreight market already has been targeted by Lufthansa Cargo, Jade Cargo International and Cargolux.

Source: Schednet