Alitalia Appoints Aviation Online as New GSA for Australia and New Zealand

Aviation Online has been appointed General Sales and Service Agent in Australia and New Zealand for Italy's national airline, Alitalia, effective from 1 January, 2014.

Gianluca Testa, Vice President Asia Pacific for Alitalia, announced the appointment today, as part of a new strategy to strengthen the airline's profile and sales in the Australasian region.

"Alitalia serves more than 100 destinations in Europe from our hub in Rome," Mr Testa said. "Australia and New Zealand are important source markets for Alitalia for leisure, business and visiting friends and relatives travel to, within and beyond Italy to points throughout Europe and North Africa. Our decision to appoint Aviation Online refreshes and strengthens our presence in the Australasian region, as we seek to our increase our profile and our sales."

Alitalia offers codeshare flights with Etihad Airways from Sydney and Melbourne to Rome and Milan, via Abu Dhabi. From Abu Dhabi, Alitalia offers 5 weekly nonstop flights to Rome with three-classes Airbus A330 aircraft.

Alitalia also offers 10 weekly flights from Tokyo's Narita Airport to Rome, 4 weekly flights from Tokyo Narita to Milan, and 5 weekly flights from Osaka to Rome. Furthermore Alitalia will open from the 2nd of april new direct flights from Tokyo Narita to Venice, being the only carrier connecting directly Venice from any point in Asia and Oceania.

Anthony Cassar, Managing Director of Aviation Online, said his company was delighted to be chosen by Alitalia, one of the largest and best-known airlines in Europe.

"Aviation Online is reinvigorating the way in which airlines are represented in the Australasian market and Alitalia's decision to appoint us is a great vote of confidence in our capabilities," Mr Cassar said.

"Alitalia offers daily service to Italy, one of the most-popular European destinations for travellers from Australia and New Zealand," he said. "We will reintroduce Rome as an affordable and convenient gateway to Europe, and build greater awareness of Alitalia as the airline of choice to Italy and beyond."

Alitalia's new toll-free reservations phone number in Australia is 1300 55 10 80.

The airline's contact number in New Zealand is 0800 003 339.

Based in Sydney, Aviation Online is owned and operated by the Cassar Family, which has more than 30 years of experience as an airline representation company. For more information visit www.aviationonline.com.au