MEDIA RELEASE Alitalia and Virgin Australia boost codeshare agreement Eight new Australian destinations for Italian travellers Rome, 5 September 2016 – Alitalia and Virgin Australia have strengthened their codeshare agreement to offer Italian air travellers eight new Australian destinations. Alitalia from today will place its “AZ” code on a range of Virgin Australia selected flights from Sydney to eight new destinations: Adelaide, Ballina, Coffs Harbour, Gold Coast, Hobart, Sunshine Coast, Melbourne and Perth. A codeshare agreement between the two airlines is already in place on flights from Abu Dhabi to Sydney and beyond to Brisbane. Similarly, Virgin Australia will place its “VA” flight code on Alitalia operated flights from Rome to 11 Italian cities - Bari, Bologna, Catania, Florence, Genoa, Lamezia Terme, Naples, Palermo, Reggio Calabria, Turin and Venice - in addition to the current codeshared services between Rome and Milan to Abu Dhabi where passengers transfer from one airline to the other. Members of Alitalia's MilleMiglia loyalty programme can earn and redeem miles on the entire Virgin Australia network and eligible members can enjoy lounge access at airports, priority check-in and increased baggage allowances. John Shepley, Chief Strategy and Planning Officer, Alitalia said: “The expanded cooperation with Virgin Australia will provide Italian air travellers with a wider range of Australian destinations for business travel and holidaymakers to bring Italy and Australia even closer. And this new arrangement opens up a variety of Italian cities throughout the whole country for Australian flyers.” The codeshare agreement means travellers can benefit from a single ticket for the entire journey with luggage checked-in at the departure airport and delivered to the final destination. The new codeshare flights are now available for sale through the airlines' reservation systems, as well as in travel agencies. 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 summer schedule, Alitalia flies to 97 destinations, including 27 Italian and 70 international destinations, with more than 4,400 weekly flights. 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. .