Alitalia informs that, within the legal term of slot release, it has today released the slots by the Company held at Milan-Malpensa airport, which it will not use during the coming summer season (March 30-October 25, 2008). The above information has been communicated and clearly explained to the President of the Regional Council of the Lombardy Region, Roberto Formigoni, and to the Mayor of Milan, Letizia Moratti, through the meetings held and the correspondence exchanged since last month of September, after the approval of the Company’s Business Plan.

As a matter of fact, at the above meetings and in the exchanges of correspondence, Alitalia, facing the Lombardy Authorities’ request of immediate release of slots, expressed the advisability – shared by the above mentioned Authorities – to keep said slots even after the IATA Scheduling Conference held in Toronto on November 2007, in order to ensure the search also by the Lombardy Region and the Milan Municipality of the more suitable alternatives.  All what above, clearly stating, nevertheless, that - taken into account the regulatory obligations to comply with in the matter - Alitalia would have, however, released the slots that it would not have had the intention to use for the coming summer season, within the legal deadline of 31 January 2008.

Source: Alitalia
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