MEDIA RELEASE

Alitalia to cease all flights to and from Reggio from 27 March, 2017 ’s proposals to find viable and sustainable ways to maintain those services have not been answered

Rome, 8 March 2017 – Alitalia will from 27 March, 2017 cease all flight operations from to Rome Fiumicino, Milan Linate and Turin . The airline currently operates 56 flights a week to and from Reggio Calabria , 38 with Rome, 14 with Milan Linate and 4 with Turin. The decision to close the routes follows more than 12 months of negotiations between Alitalia and the local and regional authorities to try and find viable and sustainable ways in which the flights – that in 2016 brought losses equal to six million euro – could become profitable. Alitalia had proposed the introduction of public service obligation (PSO) on the routes in a bid to keep the routes operating and which is a financial support mechanism fully regulated by the European law. This would also have allowed to support mobility needs of this area, otherwise reachable with difficulties. Despite the government cooperation, no positive solution was found and Alitalia’s proposals have not been answered by local authorities in charge, thus causing the unavoidable ending of Alitalia flights from Reggio Calabria.

Cramer Ball, Chief Executive Officer of Alitalia, said: “We are commercially focused business and our decisions are made for economic reasons. The Reggio Calabria services are losing money and that situation simply could not continue. We have spent many, many months talking with the local and regional authorities to save these services but unfortunately none of them were able to arrive at a solution. Alitalia remains available to discuss with the relevant authorities any new scenario and measures to be implemented immediately in order to restore sustainable services to and from Reggio Calabria airport”.

Alitalia customers already holding tickets for travels from 27 March should contact Alitalia at the toll free number 800.65.00.55 (within ) or +39.06.65649 (from abroad), or their travel agent where they purchased the ticket, to rebook their travels via Catania or Lamezia Terme or ask for full refund.

For media information: Alitalia Media T. +39.06-65638950 Email. [email protected]

About Alitalia Alitalia - Società Aerea Italiana (alitalia.com) is Italy’s largest airline and commenced operations on January 1, 2015 after acquiring the operational activities of Alitalia - Compagnia Aerea Italiana, now named CAI. CAI has a 51% controlling stake in Alitalia and the remaining 49% of shares are owned by Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates (Airline of the Year 2016 by the prestigious US-based aviation industry publication Air Transport World). As part of its 2016/2017 winter schedule, Alitalia flies to 80 destinations, including 26 Italian and 54 international destinations, with 3,600 weekly flights and 106 routes. Alitalia boasts one of the most modern and efficient fleets in the world. It is a member of the SkyTeam alliance and is part of the Transatlantic Joint Venture alongside Air France-KLM and Delta Air Lines. Alitalia also collaborates with the other Etihad Airways Partners - airberlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Etihad Airways, Etihad Regional operated by Darwin Airline, Jet Airways and NIKI – in order to offer customers more choice through improved networks and schedules and enhanced frequent flyer benefits.