Aeroitalia’s Vision: Future Growth Plans for This Italian Startup Airline

In recent years, Italy’s airline industry has faced significant challenges in establishing a robust home-based sector. Nonetheless, the country continues to attract investor interest, given its status as one of Europe’s major air travel markets.

The launch of ITA Airways, Italy’s new national airline borne from the collapse of Alitalia, has captured public attention, particularly after its acquisition by Lufthansa. However, another emerging player, Aeroitalia, is gradually making its mark in the Italian aviation landscape with a focus on enhancing domestic connectivity.

Founded in 2022 by aviation expert Francesco Gaetano Intrieri and financier Marc Bourgade, Aeroitalia aims to improve air travel within Italy. Initially, German Efromovich, former chairman of Avianca, was involved as chairman in its early days, but his role has led to an ongoing legal dispute related to the airline’s ownership.

While there were ambitious plans for long-haul expansion, these have been set aside for the time being.

Currently, Aeroitalia is actively expanding its international niche routes while strengthening its core operations that connect the Italian islands to the mainland. Intrieri has expressed hopes to pursue an IPO by the end of 2025, pending legal developments.

During the 81^st Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in Delhi, Aeroitalia’s Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), Massimo di Perna, shared insights about the airline’s trajectory and ambitions.

“We began with charter services and within a year, we rolled out our scheduled flights, solidifying our strategic role in Italy,” Di Perna explained, noting that many staff members come from experienced backgrounds in other Italian airlines.

Aeroitalia primarily serves vital connections between major Italian islands, such as Sicily and Sardinia, and the mainland, including routes covered by Public Service Obligation (PSO).

Aeroitalia’s International Expansion

As of July 2025, 96% of Aeroitalia’s operations are domestic, but new international routes are on the horizon. Currently, flights are offered from Rome Fiumicino International Airport (FCO) to destinations like Bacau (BCO) in Romania, Brno (BCQ) in the Czech Republic, and Lublin (LUZ) in Poland.

Di Perna indicated that further international growth is planned, despite the challenges of building brand awareness beyond Italy. Shortly after the interview, the airline also announced a seasonal route to Ibiza (IBZ).

Aeroitalia seeks organic growth, distinguishing itself from its previous project involving the acquisition of Romanian regional carrier AirConnect—now known as Aeroitalia Regional—which has since lost traction.

“Our target for 2025 is to serve 3.5 million passengers. Although we are still a small carrier, we are experiencing rapid growth,” Di Perna shared.

In addition to competing against ITA Airways, low-cost carriers like Ryanair and easyJet have a solid foothold in the Italian landscape. However, Aeroitalia aims to leverage its competitive advantages.

“While our costs may not be as low as some ultra-low-cost carriers, we maintain an excellent cost structure when compared to ITA Airways or even Volotea,” Di Perna remarked. “Aeroitalia has been profitable from day one.”

Defining Aeroitalia’s Strategy

For 2025, Aeroitalia is focused on stabilizing its existing network and refining its strategic plans for future growth.

The airline is implementing a new digital and commercial strategy aimed at diversifying its distribution channels. “We are transitioning towards a multi-channel approach. Currently, we sell primarily B2C, but we see great potential in B2B as well,” Di Perna explained, mentioning partnerships with global distribution systems (GDS) like Sabre and Travelport.

Additionally, Aeroitalia is forming interline agreements with major airlines to expand connectivity between its domestic network and more international destinations. These agreements include collaborations with Air France, KLM, Delta Air Lines, and Qatar Airways, announced in July 2025.

This expansion will also address the seasonality in Aeroitalia’s traffic, which currently consists of diverse passenger types, from those visiting friends and relatives to business travelers and leisure tourists heading to the Mediterranean.

Aeroitalia operates single-cabin aircraft, allowing passengers to tailor their service levels through ancillary purchases. While Di Perna prefers not to label Aeroitalia as a “low-cost” carrier due to its commitment to quality, he pointed out that the airline offers essential connectivity via Rome and thus positions itself as a network carrier.

On Aeroitalia’s Fleet

By July 2025, Aeroitalia has a fleet comprising nine Boeing 737-800s, one 737-700, two ATR72-600 turboprops from AirConnect, and two Embraers (an E175 and an E190) leased from Marathon Airlines.

Di Perna noted the challenges of acquiring aircraft in the current market. “We must collaborate closely with lessors to find available options,” he said.

The airline benefits from having a chairman with a background in aircraft leasing, facilitating timely aircraft procurement.

When asked about future fleet expansion, Di Perna affirmed, “Growth is essential. We are small in the global context.” While he can’t specify a number, he assured that the fleet would surpass 20 aircraft in due course.