The first aircraft - registration EI-UPI ' was formerly operated by Alitalia Cargo, and is currently undergoing certification with Italy's civil aviation authorities. After this, it will enter commercial service. The second aircraft (EI-UPE) is scheduled to arrive during July, with a third planned later in the year.
Cargoitalia's first scheduled flights will operate Milan (Malpensa) ' New York ' Toronto ' Milan ' Abu Dhabi ' Milan twice weekly. Route- and market studies are currently being undertaken in a number of other markets, to determine the utilization for the second and third aircraft.
Says Cargoitalia Commercial Director Roberto Gilardoni: 'Our discussions with freight forwarders throughout Italy have been very positive. The market is clearly very supportive of the return of an Italian-owned, long-haul, all-cargo airline. We look forward very much to the start of our scheduled operations.'
The Cargoitalia MD11SF has a 90,000 kilo payload and 3600 nm range.
The new Cargoitalia is the result of amalgamating the original Cargoitalia (which suspended operations in 2008) with the recently-purchased Alitalia full cargo business. Cargoitalia's new owners are ALIS (Aerolinee Italiane S.p.A. ' 66.7%) and Intesa SanPaolo (33.3%). ALIS in turn is owned by the family of Chairman and CEO Alcide Leali (62%), other private investors (8%), and Ricerca S.p.A. (Benetton), Selin S.p.A. (van den Heuvel) and Banca Intermobiliare, each having 10% stakes.
