ALITALIA commenced
its much anticipated
inaugural flight to South
Africa on April 8 and is now
operating a direct service
four times a week between
Johannesburg and Rome.
Fabio Maria Lazzerini,
chief commercial officer and
revenue management for
Alitalia, said the airline had
great confidence in South
Africa both for the present
and the future.
Describing Johannesburg as
Alitalia’s gateway to Central
and South Africa, he said the
airline was looking forward
to operating in South Africa
after an absence of 17
years. He said about 4 000
passengers moved between
South Africa and Italy every
week and that the introduction
of direct flights was expected
to increase these numbers
further. South African
passenger numbers to Italy
also grew by 9% during 2017.
“There are a large number
of Italian companies operating
in South Africa already
and many South African
companies travel to both
Italy and the rest of Europe.
Italy has always been popular
with South Africans and
South Africa has always been
popular with Italians from
a leisure perspective,” he
added. Fabio also hinted that
Cape Town was being strongly
considered, should costs,
time slots and permits prove
favourable.
“We are hoping to attract
both leisure and corporate
clients on this new route,”
said Fabio confirming that
tour operator and corporate
fares were already available in
the market in addition to the
standard market fares.
The airline also offers Italy,
Europe, Middle East and
North Africa passes to South
African travellers, which can
be issued in conjunction with
their intercontinental Alitalia
flights with a minimum of
four and a maximum of eight
sectors allowed per ticket.
Pass prices start from €58
(R865) per person, excluding
taxes, for destinations within
Italy, €90 (R1 340) for
European destinations and
€110 (R1 640) for the Middle
East and North African pass.
Additionally, a free stopover
in Rome is on offer until
December 31, and Alitalia
has negotiated stopover hotel
rates from €70 (R1 045) per
person sharing for four-star
hotels in the city.
Flights will depart Rome
on Tuesdays, Thursdays,
Saturdays and Sundays
at 22h10, arriving in
Johannesburg at 08h20. The
Johannesburg to Rome flights
will operate on Mondays,
Wednesdays, Fridays and
Sundays departing at 21h00
and arriving in Rome at
07h25 the next morning.
Three cabins will be
available on the South African
service – economy, premium
economy and Magnifica, an
Alitalia cabin class sitting
somewhere between first
and business class, offering
Poltrona Frau leather seats,
lie-flat beds, award-winning
cuisine and WiFi.
The airline also offers
excellent flight connections
beyond Italy into Europe, and
North and South America, and
has an agreement in place
with Delta, Air France and
KLM offering a large variety
of destinations and flight
schedules.
