Air Italy Postpones Milan to Chicago Route Launch Until 2020
Milan-based Air Italy has pushed the launch of its route to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD) off to 2020. The flight is considered to be an important US outpost for the nascent European carrier.
It remains to be seen if these are innocuous growing pains for the rapidly expanding airline, which is hardly a year old, or if the carrier is biting off more than it can chew. During the past month, Air Italy has axed several of its new routes. On Friday, the airline said it needed to push off the Chicago flight to next year, only a few months before the route was set to start carrying passengers in May 2019.
Routes Online had noted early on Friday that reservations for the Milan (MXP) to Chicago route appeared to be closed on Air Italy's website, and Chicago no longer appeared as a destination option on the airline's booking page.
In addition to the delayed Chicago route, Air Italy also says it's ending its flights to Delhi effective March 29, and its route to Mumbai effective Feb. 17. The carrier did, however, say that it will be adding two more frequencies to its Milan—Toronto route for a total of six flights per week and adding one more frequency to its Milan—Miami route for a total of five flights per week, beginning sometime this summer.
Air Italy also plans to launch flights from Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO) to Milan (MXP) in April 2019.
In a statement to TPG on Friday, Air Italy said the changes were "due to a combination of strategic network consolidation and route prioritization, aircraft delivery changes, and market dynamics."
Air Italy had originally planned to launch service to O'Hare in May 2019 and operate flights with a frequency of three times per week on the below schedule:
IG 913 (Tues, Sat) — Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) Departure 11:30am => Chicago O'Hare (ORD) 4:25pm Arrival
IG 913 (Thurs) — Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) Departure 1:25pm => Chicago O'Hare (ORD) 4:40pm Arrival
IG 914 (Tues, Sat) — Chicago O'Hare (ORD) Departure 6:25pm => Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) 10:30am (+1) Arrival
IG 914 (Thurs) — Chicago O'Hare (ORD) Departure 6:25pm => Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) 10:50am (+1) Arrival
When it first launched in February 2018, Air Italy had a grand, five-year plan to turn itself from a niche player into the biggest international airline in Italy and possibly a member of the Oneworld alliance, TPG's Alberto Riva reported.
Since making its concerted push into the US market, Air Italy has faced strong resistance from the major US carriers, who say the airline is competing unfairly because it is partially owned by state-funded Qatar Airways CEO Akbar al Baker, who holds a 49% stake in Air Italy. The CEOs of Delta, United and American all accuse al Baker of using Air Italy as a loophole to offer fifth freedom flights, or routes between markets that don't connect to an airline's home country. Because al Baker owns a minority stake in Air Italy, the routes between the US and Europe are not considered fifth freedom flights.
Qatar has previously pledged to the US government to not offer fifth freedom flights from American cities as part of an agreement to be more transparent about its government subsidies.
Eleven US Republican senators also joined the chorus of dissent against Qatar's minority stake in Air Italy, sending a letter to the administration of US President Donald Trump decrying that Air Italy's flights are "consistent with Qatar Airways pattern of adding subsidized capacity in markets where demand is already well-served.”
It's not clear if those vocal protests had an impact on the Chicago route.
Air Italy said customers affected by the route changes should call representatives at +39 0789 52609 or Whatsapp +39 3453060102.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.