Aeroitalia plays with the big boys: agreement with Air France, KLM and Delta. But (for now) no miles from the domestic route

We could almost consider it the international 'debut' of Aeroitalia. Because, if it is true that Italy's third-largest airline by fleet size Has already flown abroad in its three years of existence (and still connects Brno in the Czech Republic, Lublin in Poland, Ibiza in Spain, Bucharest and Bachau in Romania to Italy), To approach the likes of Air France, KLM and Delta Airlines is to play 'with the big boys' on a global stage.

That's what the carrier led by CEO Gaetano Intrieri did by announcing, starting today, July 1, an interline agreement with the two European carriers and the U.S..

"The interline agreement stipulates that, for the time being, they can sell our flights, but we cannot sell theirs. It does, however, recognize us A fixed 'fee' per passenger carried on the domestic route than a New York-Cagliari or a Paris-Catania, to give an example," Intrieri explains to The Flight Club.

However, the interline allows a passenger from Aeroitalia, or Air France, KLM, and Delta to check in only once at departure and pick up baggage at the final destination, after the stopover at Aeroitalia's 'hubs' in Rome Fiumicino, Milan Linate and Milan Malpensa. And it is preparatory to the actual codeshare agreement.

For the time being, 'interline' flights can only be booked and purchased from travel agencies and platforms that sell flights online (OTAs) such as booking.com, trip.com, skyscanner.com, etc.... "But, within a few months, and certainly by the end of the year, it will also be possible to book them on our website and certainly on Delta Airlines' website" adds the CEO, who then describes the launched agreement as "a huge step for us. This is the first time that giants like these have entered into such an agreement with an Italian private company. One thing we are very proud of is that it is a recognition of the work done over the years."

However, passengers who are members of Air France/KLM's Flying Blue and Delta Airlines' SkyMiles FFP programs will have to wait to collect points on the route operated by Aeroitalia as well (while they will have them, of course, from the route operated by AF,KL and DL). "That possibility will be there When the interline turns into codeshare in a few months' time, because then Delta, Air France and KLM will have their flight numbers next to ours for the route we operate," Intrieri points out.

For Air France, KLM and Delta, the one with Aeroitalia is a logical partnership, to have more penetration in the Italian market, after ITA Airways' exit from Skyteam and its impending transition to Star Alliance consequent to joining the Lufthansa Group.