20 October, 2014 ETIHAD AIRWAYS AND ALITIALIA UNVEIL TWO EXPO MILANO 2015 AIRCRAFT TO TAKE MESSAGE AROUND THE WORLD Alitalia, Italy s leading carrier, and Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, have unveiled two aircraft in a unique Expo Milano 2015 livery to mark their cosponsorship of the global event. Expo 2015 will be held in Milan from 1 May 2015 to 31 October 2015 with an estimated 20 million visitors expected to attend the event of which more than a third will travel to the northern Italian city by air. Alitalia and Etihad Airways held joint simultaneous events at Malpensa Airport in Milan and Abu Dhabi Airport to unveil the two Airbus A330-200 aircraft, to audiences gathered in both locations as well as thousands watching online around the world. The Alitalia A330-200 and the Etihad Airways A330-200, both in the eye-catching special livery, will operate their first flights tomorrow, Tuesday 21 October, between Rome and Abu Dhabi and will carry the Expo Milano 2015 feeding the planet, energy for life message worldwide. James Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said: I am delighted to launch the Expo 2015 collaboration with Alitalia in Milan and in Abu Dhabi. From today, these two aircraft, in this eye-catching livery, will spread the important global message of Expo 2015 to people on six continents. The co-sponsorship of Expo 2015 is evidence of the growing partnership between Alitalia and Etihad Airways and will play in a key role in bringing the targeted eight million visitors from around the world to Milan. 1
I believe Expo 2015 will once again demonstrate the power of travel and tourism to drive growth and stimulate job creation and economic development in Italy. Flight frequencies to and from Milan are set to increase during Expo 2015 when Alitalia will commence daily flights to Milan Malpensa from Abu Dhabi and from Shanghai, that will be introduced in the next months, after approval by European authorities, and Alitalia will also increase domestic and international flights. These flights will connect with Etihad Airways services throughout the Middle East and with markets in the Indian sub-continent, Southeast Asia, and Africa. Alitalia and Etihad Airways will link Milan with 560 unique online and codeshare destinations across the globe. The new Alitalia service to Abu Dhabi will complement Etihad Airways successful daily passenger flights and regular freight flights between Milan and Abu Dhabi and contribute to the two airlines commitment to develop Malpensa as a global air cargo hub. Gabriele Del Torchio, Chief Executive Officer of Alitalia, said: We are very pleased to continue the joint Expo 2015 campaign with Etihad Airways and unveil these Expo 2015 livery aircraft which will be seen at airports in North America, South America, Asia and Africa all key markets for Alitalia and from where we ll carry passengers to Expo 2015 in Milan. The Expo 2015 logo expresses a set of values and a vision shared also by Alitalia: the pursuit of excellence, style and elegance typical of the Made in Italy brand, the renowned cuisine, fashion, design and art that are an essential part of our country. We are very proud that Alitalia and Etihad Airways have been jointly chosen as the Official Global Airline Carriers. Today I want to repeat even louder that this choice reaffirms Alitalia s important and strategic role as an infrastructural asset in Italy s development and its commitment to travel and tourism. 2
In addition to the joint liveried aircraft, Alitalia and Etihad Airways are offering a number of business initiatives including all-inclusive packages and special fares targeted at families, seniors, business travellers and young people for Expo Milano 2015. The two air carriers are also implementing an integrated marketing and communication plan including onboard and ground announcements for their flights, as well as offers to loyalty program members, print and digital campaigns, and social media activities. Alitalia and Etihad Airways will have a pavilion throughout Expo 2015 with an interactive social hub that will enable guests to enjoy activities in Milan whether in the city or around the world. Giuseppe Sala, Commissioner of the Government of Italy for Expo Milano 2015 and CEO of the Expo 2015 Company, said: We are very pleased with the communication project planned by Alitalia and Etihad Airways to accompany the launch of Expo 2015. We are proud to see these two Airbus A330-200s with the World Expo logo on it, emphasising the unique and extraordinary event that we are organising. We set an important goal for eight million people to come from abroad and visit Expo 2015. Thanks to these aircraft, and the other initiatives that will be put in place in the coming months, we are sure we will achieve this goal. - Ends- About Alitalia Alitalia - Compagnia Aerea Italiana (www.alitalia.com) is a fully private company that started its operations on 13 January 2009. The Company s 2014 summer schedule offers 103 destinations, of which 26 in Italy and 77 for the rest of the world, 186 routes and more than 4,700 weekly flights. The Company carried 23.99 million passengers in 2013. Alitalia is a member of the SkyTeam global alliance and, since 2010, forms part with Air France-KLM and 3
Delta Air Lines of the main air transport Transatlantic Joint Venture. Today, the fleet of Alitalia is one of the youngest in the world with an average age of only 7 years and is one of the most efficient thanks to a reduction in the number of aircraft types and low environmental impact. Alitalia has been recognised by the pollsters of the German Institute of Quality and Finance (ITQF) as "the best airline for the services offered to customers", winning the gold medal with an 82.6% percentage rate of satisfaction. In 2013, for the fourth year in a row, Alitalia, has been recognized as the best airline in the world for the quality of its innovative onboard dining program in Magnifica Business Class. The prize of Best Airline Cuisine has been awarded by the American magazine Global Traveler, which has been conducting research on the exceptional achievements of the travel and tourism industry for ten years. In 2013 Alitalia has also been awarded as with the prize Best In-Flight Wine Program at the SAVEUR Culinary Travel Awards. About Etihad Airways Etihad Airways began operations in 2003, and in 2013 carried 11.5 million passengers. From its Abu Dhabi base Etihad Airways flies to 110 existing or announced passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas. The airline has a fleet of 105 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, and more than 200 aircraft on firm order, including 71 Boeing 787s, 25 Boeing 777-X, 62 Airbus A350s and 10 Airbus A380s. Etihad Airways holds equity investments in airberlin, Air Seychelles, Virgin Australia, Aer Lingus, Air Serbia and Jet Airways, and is in the process of formalising equity investments in Alitalia and Swiss-based Etihad Regional, operated by Darwin Airline. For more information, please visit: www.etihad.com About Expo2015 Expo 2015 is the company in charge of the organization and managing of Expo Milano 2015 events. The Company, based in Milan, works on the preparation and the construction of the Exhibition Site and provides it with technological devices and services. Over 140 Countries have already confirmed their presence to the Event. For more info and updates on the subject Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life and the Expo 2015 activities visit www.expo2015.org 4
Ufficio stampa Alitalia Antonella Zivillica Responsabile Relazioni con i Media ed Editoria Tel.: 06-65638950 Email: ufficio.stampa@alitalia.it Ufficio stampa Etihad Airways Italia c/o AIGO Folco Gervasutti / Alessandra Rischio Mob. 335/295553 / 3440990468 Tel. 02 669927.251 / 240 Fax. 02 6692648 e-mail: f.gervasutti@aigo.it / a.rischio@aigo.it Ufficio stampa Expo 2015 Tel: 02 89459400 Email: ufficiostampa@expo2015.org; pressoffice@expo2015.org 5