Aeroitalia

Aeroitalia is an Italian airline established in 2022 and headquartered in Rome. It was created by Francesco Gaetano Intrieri, a former consultant to Italy’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, with the initiative and backing of Marc Bourgade, who became the company’s executive chairman. The airline entered a competitive Italian aviation market by concentrating initially on domestic and short-haul European services rather than attempting to reproduce the scale or network breadth of established flag carriers. Aeroitalia began scheduled operations on 9 July 2022 from Forlì, linking the airport with Italian destinations and selected international leisure markets including Malta and Zakynthos. Its business has subsequently centered on point-to-point passenger services from several Italian bases, with route availability shaped by seasonal demand, airport capacity, commercial agreements and aircraft deployment. The airline has also operated charter services, allowing it to serve travel organizers and other customers beyond its published scheduled timetable. The company’s operating model has expanded beyond a single-base startup. Its bases and operating locations have included Bergamo, Comiso, Genoa, Rome–Fiumicino and Salerno, while the airline has developed a fleet centered on Boeing 737 aircraft for higher-capacity routes and ATR 72 turboprops for regional flying. In 2023, Aeroitalia announced additional service to Sicily, including Trapani, Palermo and Catania, with support from the Sicilian regional government. The expansion reflected a strategy of strengthening domestic Italian connectivity while maintaining selected European routes. Aeroitalia initially discussed possible long-haul operations to the United States and Latin America by 2023. Those plans did not proceed as originally envisaged; the company instead prioritized consolidating its domestic and European activities. The airline also pursued regional expansion through corporate development. In November 2023 it was reported to have acquired a 93.86 percent stake in Romanian regional carrier AirConnect. AirConnect was rebranded Aeroitalia Regional in April 2024, and Aeroitalia announced a new base in Bacău, Romania, in July 2024. The regional subsidiary was sold to Sicilian investors in December 2024. The company’s ownership and governance have attracted attention. In December 2024, Intrieri said Aeroitalia was considering a public listing in 2025. The statement came while a dispute involving Bourgade and the airline’s launch investment was being litigated in the United Kingdom’s High Court. Separately, in 2025, ITA Airways brought proceedings concerning the similarity between Aeroitalia’s name and visual identity and those associated with Alitalia. An Italian court ordered changes to the name and branding and required the company to stop using the aeroitalia.com website by 1 January 2026. Aeroitalia announced a proposed rebrand, including the name Air Italy and a new livery, while retaining Aeroitalia as its corporate name pending appeal. In February 2026, the parties reportedly reached an agreement allowing continued use of the Aeroitalia name and branding, and the lawsuit was dropped. Aeroitalia remains a relatively young, privately held airline whose network, bases, fleet utilization and corporate structure may change as it balances domestic growth, European regional flying, charter activity and regulatory or legal requirements.

Aeroitalia was established in Italy in 2022 by Francesco Gaetano Intrieri, a former consultant to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport. The airline was developed with the initiative of investor Marc Bourgade, who became executive chairman, while Intrieri became chief executive. Its creation added a new privately held operator to Italy’s commercial aviation market after a period of significant change among the country’s airlines. The company started scheduled operations on 9 July 2022 from Forlì. Its first network combined domestic Italian destinations with selected international leisure routes, including Malta and Zakynthos. Aeroitalia’s initial plan included possible long-haul flights to the United States and Latin America by 2023, but that ambition was later deferred as the airline concentrated on building a sustainable domestic and European operation. During 2023, the airline increased its attention to Sicily. It announced additional services to Trapani, Palermo and Catania with support from the Sicilian government. This expansion complemented its broader strategy of using Italian bases to serve domestic demand and selected short-haul European markets. Its operations have been associated with bases or operating locations in Bergamo, Comiso, Genoa, Rome–Fiumicino and Salerno. The fleet has included Boeing 737 aircraft for mainline routes and ATR 72 turboprops for regional operations. Aeroitalia pursued a regional corporate expansion in late 2023. On 6 November it was reported to have acquired a 93.86 percent interest in AirConnect, a Romanian regional airline. AirConnect was renamed Aeroitalia Regional in April 2024. Aeroitalia subsequently announced a new base at Bacău in July 2024, extending the group’s operating presence into Romania. The subsidiary was sold to Sicilian investors in December 2024, ending that phase of Aeroitalia’s direct regional ownership. The airline’s corporate development was accompanied by uncertainty concerning ownership and financing. In December 2024, Intrieri said the company was considering a public offering in 2025. At the same time, a dispute concerning Bourgade and an agreed sale involving the airline’s launch investor was being heard in the United Kingdom’s High Court. The available reference material does not establish a final detailed account of the ownership dispute or provide verified financial terms for a prospective listing. A separate legal issue concerned Aeroitalia’s brand identity. In June 2025, following proceedings brought by ITA Airways, an Italian court found that the Aeroitalia name and branding were excessively similar to those historically associated with Alitalia. The court ordered changes to the airline’s name and visual identity and directed it to stop using the aeroitalia.com domain by 1 January 2026. Aeroitalia announced in August that it would adopt a new identity while retaining Aeroitalia as its corporate name pending an appeal. In September, the proposed new commercial name was reported as Air Italy, with implementation planned for March 2026. In February 2026, Aeroitalia and ITA Airways reportedly reached an agreement permitting continued use of the Aeroitalia name and branding, and the litigation was dropped. Aeroitalia continues to operate as an Italian scheduled and charter airline. Its development remains dependent on aircraft availability, airport bases, route economics, seasonal demand, regulatory approvals and the resolution of corporate and branding matters.

1. 2026Branding dispute resolved

   Aeroitalia and ITA Airways reach an agreement allowing continued use of the Aeroitalia identity, and the lawsuit is dropped.

   Source
2. 2025Branding judgment

   An Italian court orders changes to Aeroitalia’s name and branding following ITA Airways’ lawsuit.

   Source
3. 2024Aeroitalia Regional launches

   AirConnect is rebranded as Aeroitalia Regional.

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4. 2024Bacău base announced

   Aeroitalia announces a new Romanian base in Bacău.

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5. 2024Regional subsidiary divested

   Aeroitalia Regional is sold to Sicilian investors.

   Source
6. 2023Sicilian network expansion

   The airline announces additional services to Trapani, Palermo and Catania with regional government support.

   Source
7. 2023AirConnect stake acquired

   Aeroitalia acquires a reported 93.86 percent stake in Romanian regional airline AirConnect.

   Source
8. 2022Aeroitalia is established

   The Italian airline is launched by Francesco Gaetano Intrieri with the initiative of investor Marc Bourgade.

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9. 2022Scheduled operations begin

   Aeroitalia starts scheduled flights from Forlì to domestic Italian destinations and selected international points.

   Source

A privately held Italian airline focused on domestic connectivity, selected European routes and complementary charter operations, with a mixed Boeing 737 and ATR 72 fleet.

• Scheduled passenger flightsPassenger airline services2022

  Scheduled passenger flights are Aeroitalia’s principal offering. The network is centered on Italian airports and includes domestic services as well as selected European destinations. Routes may be adjusted in response to seasonality, airport capacity, aircraft availability and commercial demand.

• Charter servicesCharter airline services

  Charter operations complement Aeroitalia’s published scheduled network. These flights can be arranged for tour operators, travel programs or other customers and are generally dependent on specific contracts, seasonal demand and available aircraft.

• Aeroitalia RegionalRegional airline services2024

  Aeroitalia Regional was the operating identity applied to Romanian carrier AirConnect after Aeroitalia acquired a majority stake. The brand included regional flying and a planned Bacău base, but the subsidiary was sold to Sicilian investors in December 2024.

• 2023Sicily network expansion

  Italy · Sicily

  Aeroitalia expanded its announced service presence in Sicily with additional flights to Trapani, Palermo and Catania, supported by the Sicilian government.

  Outcome. The initiative strengthened the airline’s domestic Italian positioning, although the reference material does not provide verified traffic or financial results.

  Source

• 2025Plan a new commercial identityOther

  An Italian court found Aeroitalia’s name and branding too similar to those associated with Alitalia in proceedings brought by ITA Airways.

  What changed. Aeroitalia announced plans for a new name, branding and aircraft livery, with Air Italy reported as the proposed commercial name.

  Aftermath. The proposed rebrand was overtaken by a February 2026 agreement with ITA Airways that allowed continued use of the Aeroitalia identity.

  • ITA Airways — ITA Airways brought the branding lawsuit and later reached an agreement permitting continued use of the Aeroitalia name and branding.
  Source
• 2024Prioritize domestic and European consolidationStrategy

  Aeroitalia had discussed long-haul services to the United States and Latin America but had not established those operations.

  What changed. The airline deferred its long-haul ambitions and focused on consolidating Italian and European operations.

  Aftermath. The company continued operating a short-haul network while developing and later divesting its Romanian regional subsidiary.

  Source
• 2023Acquire a majority stake in AirConnectM&A

  Aeroitalia sought to extend its regional presence beyond Italy through Romanian carrier AirConnect.

  What changed. The airline acquired a reported 93.86 percent stake in AirConnect and later rebranded it Aeroitalia Regional.

  Aftermath. Aeroitalia announced a Bacău base in 2024, but the regional subsidiary was sold to Sicilian investors in December 2024.

  Acquired ownership stake. 93.86% stake reported (November 2023)

  Source

• 2026Aeroitalia and ITA Airways resolve the branding dispute

  The companies reportedly reached an agreement allowing continued use of the Aeroitalia name and branding, after which the lawsuit was dropped.

  LawsuitOther
  Source
• 2025ITA Airways wins an initial branding case against Aeroitalia

  An Italian court found that Aeroitalia’s name and branding were too similar to those associated with Alitalia and ordered the airline to change its branding and stop using aeroitalia.com by 1 January 2026.

  LawsuitRegulation
  Source
• 2025Aeroitalia announces a proposed Air Italy rebrand

  The airline announced plans for a new name, visual identity and aircraft livery, with the proposed operating name Air Italy and implementation planned for March 2026.

  Other
  Source
• 2024AirConnect becomes Aeroitalia Regional

  The Romanian airline acquired by Aeroitalia was rebranded Aeroitalia Regional in April 2024.

  Other
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• 2024Aeroitalia announces a Bacău base

  The airline announced the opening of a new base in Bacău, Romania, for its regional operation.

  Other
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• 2024Aeroitalia Regional is sold to Sicilian investors

  Aeroitalia Regional was sold again in December 2024 to investors from Sicily.

  M&A
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• 2024Aeroitalia considers a public listing amid ownership dispute

  CEO Francesco Gaetano Intrieri said the airline was considering an initial public offering in 2025. The announcement occurred amid a United Kingdom High Court dispute involving chairman Marc Bourgade and the airline’s launch investment.

  OtherLawsuit
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• 2023Aeroitalia expands Sicilian services

  The airline announced additional flights to Trapani, Palermo and Catania, supported by the Sicilian government.

  Other
  Source
• 2023Aeroitalia acquires a majority stake in AirConnect

  Aeroitalia was reported to have acquired a 93.86 percent stake in Romanian regional airline AirConnect.

  M&A
  Source
• 2022Aeroitalia launches scheduled operations from Forlì

  The airline began scheduled flights on 9 July 2022, initially serving domestic Italian destinations and selected international routes including Malta and Zakynthos.

  Other
  Source

1. Aeroitalia
2. Aeroitalia official website