Meridiana on Monday changed its
name to Air Italy and, with the backing of new shareholder Qatar
Airways, said it was set to become "the national carrier for
Italy", replacing Alitalia.
"We will show that we are the star," said Qatar Airways group
CEO, Akbar Al Baker, presenting the airline's development plans.
"In five years," he said, "the fleet will grow to 50 planes
and will carry 10 million passengers," said Meridiana President
Francesco Violante.
The plan will enable Air Italy to hire "more than 1,5000
people", Al Baker said.
Violante said "this is an ambitious plan for Air Italy, which
opens up great prospects".
He said 20% of profits would go to staff.
The airline will remained headquartered at Olbia in Sardinia.
However, Al baker added, Rome's Fiumicino Airport "will soon
become the second hub of Air Italy."
He said "already this year we will relaunch a network of
chort and medium haul links".
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