Alitalia stops selling tickets, prepares to close

Italy’s Alitalia will halt operations effective Oct. 15 and has stopped selling tickets for any dates after Oct. 14. 

The move has been expected since last month when a launch date of Oct. 15 was set for Italia Transporto Aereo (ITA), the state-owned carrier that will replace bankrupt Alitalia, which is also state-owned. 

Related: Italian airline Neos entering U.S. market

In a Tuesday announcement, Alitalia said that customers holding tickets for any flight after Oct. 15 can rebook to the same destination free of charge for an earlier date. Alternatively, customers can request a full refund. 

Under an insolvency agreement reached between Italy and the EU, ITA will acquire Alitalia’s assets through direct negotiation. The new carrier also plans to take part in a public bidding process for the Alitalia name and logo. 

ITA will begin operations flying a fleet of 52 aircraft to 45 destinations on 61 routes with bases in Milan and Rome. Initial U.S. destinations will be New York, Boston and Miami, with service to Washington and Los Angeles expected to be added in summer 2022.

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