Cargoitalia receives its first MD-11F

CARGOITALIA – the Italian all-cargo airline being re-launched under the new ownership of ALIS (Aerolinee Italiane) – has taken delivery of the first of three MD-11SF freighters.

The first aircraft – registration EI-UPI – was formerly operated by Alitalia Cargo, and is currently undergoing certification with Italy’s civil aviation authorities. After this, it will enter commercial service. The second aircraft (EI-UPE) is scheduled to arrive during July, with a third planned later in the year.

Cargoitalia’s first scheduled flights will operate Milan (Malpensa) – New York – Toronto – Milan – Abu Dhabi – Milan twice weekly. Route and market studies are currently being undertaken in a number of other markets, to determine the use for the second and third aircraft.

Cargoitalia’s commercial director, Roberto Gilardoni, said: “Our discussions with freight forwarders throughout Italy have been very positive. The market is clearly very supportive of the return of an Italian-owned, long-haul, all-cargo airline. We look forward very much to the start of our scheduled operations.”

The Cargoitalia MD-11SF has a 90,000 kg payload and 3,600 nm range.

The new Cargoitalia is the result of amalgamating the original Cargoitalia, which suspended operations in 2008, with the recently purchased Alitalia full-cargo business. Cargoitalia’s new owners are ALIS (66.7 per cent) and Intesa SanPaolo (33.3 per cent). ALIS in turn is owned by the family of chairman and chief executive officer, Alcide Leali (62 per cent), other private investors (eight per cent), and Ricerca (Benetton), Selin (van den Heuvel) and Banca Intermobiliare; each of which have 10 per cent stakes.