The take-off of Italia Trasporti Aereo, the new public company called to relaunch Alitalia, ignites the challenge between Airbus and Boeing to win a contract worth 5.3 billion dollars (considering the discounts). But a tender that sees Airbus ahead on the supply of all 81 next-generation jets planned within four years. what they explain to the Corriere della Sera three industrial sources aware of the dossier. After the start-up phase of operations – where aircraft of the old Alitalia will be used – the renewal of the newco fleet should take place by resorting to rental and not to purchase because the delivery agenda of the European aerospace giant is so dense that until 2024-25 there are no free jets.
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The talks
The same sources specify that a final decision has not yet been taken by the top management of ITA – the president Alfredo Altavilla and the managing director Fabio Lazzerini -, but this is an important shift towards the European giant a year after those first talks that they saw instead Boeing has an advantage for long-haul aircraft. The main obstacle to the agreement with Toulouse could be a counter-proposal from Boeing with an unprecedented package: aircraft discounted by 60-70%, maintenance guaranteed for an appropriate period of time and payment of training costs to obtain qualifications for the pilots of the newco tricolor.
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The first stage
At the start of operations – scheduled for October 15 – ITA intends to fly with 52 aircraft, all or almost all of them caught by the current Alitalia fleet and subject to negotiations with the commissioners as part of the direct sale of the aviation branch. From what the Courier service the discussions have not yet started and are expected to be delicate because several aircraft will have to undergo mandatory maintenance periods. From 2022 – explains a note from ITA – the introduction of new generation aircraft that will progressively replace the old technology aircraft is expected. By 2025, the newco will increase the number of machines to 105, 81 of which are of the latest generation.
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One supplier
To eliminate the complexity and inefficiencies deriving from operating aircraft from different manufacturers, ITA plans to converge on a single strategic partner over the course of the plan. Officially the newco is talking to both Airbus and Boeing with the aim of a rapid conversion of the fleet, but behind the scenes according to industrial sources, Airbus has the upper hand for now. For a mathematical question above all: currently Alitalia’s fleet of all Airbus A319 and A320 (net of the few Embraers in the regional division) in the short and medium flight segment, and half Airbus (A330) and Boeing (777-200ER and a 777 -300ER) in that of intercontinental connections.
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The conditions
Then there is the technical aspect: it would take too much time – in addition to the high costs – for the conversion of pilots from the Airbus A320 to the Boeing 737 Max. For this reason it is better to focus on the commonality of the fleet which entails economic and logistical benefits thanks to the standardization of aircraft that have many components and features in common and also training requirements. Then there is the strategic issue: according to experts, net of some extra-European destinations, the double-aisle Airbus is better than the Boeing equivalent for the ITA network of connections. And there would also be advantages in the context of international synergies both with Delta Air Lines and with Lufthansa.
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Features
At the end of the plan arc, the new fleet could thus consist of a dozen Airbus A220-300s (the former Bombardier C-Series), about forty Airbus A320neo, five A321neo and 23 A330neo / A350. The price list – considering the discount applied of 50-53% – sees the A220-300 costing 37 million dollars, the Airbus A320neo 49 million, the A321neo 56 million, the A330neo 110 million and the A350-900 149 million. But the newco – the sources continue – must decide within the year which aircraft it wants from Airbus and with which configuration to have them from the third quarter of 2022: it takes 9-12 months to make the required changes.
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The contracts
Not only. Since the delivery schedule is full, the newco can only lease aircraft ordered by specialized companies such as AerCap or AirLease with the help of Airbus. A solution that partially solves the problem of resources: ITA has a maximum of 3 billion euros public (it will ask for 1.35 billion in the first three years) and will have to sign credit lines with banks. This is why the most accredited hypothesis is that we move towards an entirely chartered fleet at first: on the basis of current market values this would involve an expense of just under 400 million euros per year to operate the leased jets.
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The replicas of the builders
Boeing certainly won’t be watching. Also because it still has about one hundred 787s (for the long haul) in the inventory of which several still without an owner. The 737 Max for short and medium flights, then, in this period cost less than usual after several order cancellations following the double accident in Indonesia (October 2018) and Ethiopia (March 2019). Interlocutions with all our customers are confidential, we cannot comment on the rumors, he explains Courier service an Airbus spokesperson. Alitalia for us an important long-term customer, reply from Boeing and as regards ITA we are in continuous dialogue on the future needs of the airline’s fleet. However – they clarify – the details of these commercial discussions are confidential.
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The assembly of ITA
In the next few days, in the meantime, the shareholders’ meeting of Italia Transport Aereo should take place for the first capital increase of 700 million euros – the others are expected in 2022 (400 million) and 2023 (250 million) – to buy the aviation branch from Alitalia, to obtain the certifications for the sale of tickets and to participate in tenders for the other assets of the carrier. Starting with the crucial and most urgent one: the brand. For handling and maintenance, on the other hand, longer times are foreseen which should lead to the sale in 2022. As is well known, ITA will not be able to participate in the tender for the MilleMiglia loyalty program.
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