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The Company
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Company profile
Origins
Air One was born from Aliadriatica, a company founded in Pescara in 1983 to provide flight training and air-taxi services, and subsequently to operate regional scheduled flights. In 1988 Toto Group S.p.A. became the majority shareholder and it now completely detains the equity capital. The Group, besides offering air travel and airport services, also operates in the construction and public works business and as a motorway concessionary. In June 1994, Aliadriatica bought a Boeing 737-200 and thereby started to operate medium-haul scheduled and charter flights. This was the first step towards the radical changes that were to occur in 1995. On April 27th 1995, Aliadriatica opened scheduled flights between Milan Linate and Brindisi, Reggio Calabria and Lamezia Terme. On November 23rd 1995 the new name Air One was adopted and the company took its most important step by starting operating scheduled flights between Rome Fiumicino and Milan Linate. It was the first time this route, the fifth busiest in Europe, was offered by an alternative carrier to the only one authorized to operate until that moment. Today Air One is Italy’s first privately owned airline.In 2007 Air One obtained a domestic market share of 37% and, with its 3,400 employees (including those working for its subsidiaries), flies to 21 domestic, 10 international and 2 intercontinental destinations. Air One also reaches many other destinations thanks to its code-share agreements with partner airlines.During the summer holiday season it will increase its already vast range of destinations by including flights to many locations of interest to tourists, especially in the Mediterranean area. In 2007 Air One carried more than 7.5 million passengers, confirming its strong growth pattern over the years (in 2002 it carried 4 million passengers, and in 2006 6.3 million).Rome Fiumicino is the centre of Air One’s network, but the airports of Milan-Malpensa, Milan-Linate, Naples and Turin are also strategic hubs for the airline, connecting passengers to flights departing for other domestic, international and intercontinental destinations. In 2007 Air One saw sales of about 750 million euros, an increase of 22.6% with respect to the preceding year. A full 9% of this income came from its international operations.
One of Europe’s youngest fleets
The rapid expansion and improved service quality which have characterised Air One in the past few years, an intrinsic element of the goals proposed in the 2007-2011 business plan, has also included the progressive renewal and expansion of the fleet of aircraft in operation.The Company has a global agreement for 90 A320 Airbuses, of which 17 have already been delivered and are operative; the remaining aircraft are on a one per month delivery schedule.Furthermore, ten new 90-seat Bombardier CRJ900’s were delivered in 2007 for use on its regional routes, while the new intercontinental flights will be operated with two A330-200 Airbuses. Air One has signed a contract with Airbus for the purchase of 24 new long range aircraft, with a purchase option on 20 more. The new aircraft ordered are twelve Airbus A330-200s and twelve Airbus A350-800 XWBs.The contract also includes eight purchase options for A330s and twelve for A350 XWBs.The A330s will be delivered over a period of two years starting in 2010, while the A350s will be delivered between 2014 and 2018.
Air One and the environment
Air One has always been involved in promoting environmentally friendly air transport policies and has, in the last few months, taken some strategic decisions which see growth in service quality from an ecological point of view.In particular, Air One is the first airline in the world to install motors on their A320 Airbuses which noticeably reduce environmentally hazardous emissions, consequently reducing the consumption of valuable gas (by 1%), decreasing the emission of CO2 and therefore also the amount of nitrogen oxide by 40% in the air. This is all part of a project for the renovation of the Air One fleet which will allow the company to, by the year 2012, have one of the youngest and environmentally conscious fleets in all of Europe.For this reason Air One has also been recognised as the most environmentally respectful airline of 2007.
Attention to safety and quality
In July of 2005 Air One was the first in Italy to be awarded the IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) Certificate by IATA (the International Air Transport Association).This certificate recognises the high standards of quality with regards to piloting and maintenance, an aspect of the business which Air One has always considered a priority, together with the maximum passenger quality and comfort standards.This certification was renewed in 2006 for another two years.In February of 2004 Air One also received a TUV certification relative to the programming and planning of flights and services offered.In March of 2007 the certificate was renewed for another three years.
International agreements
Since the year 2000, Air One has been in close sales and technical collaboration with Lufthansa, head of the Star Alliance, the principle alliance among airlines worldwide. Over the years it has also developed code-share agreements (which allow airlines to share flights with partner companies) with TAP Portugal, Aegean Airlines, Croatia Airlines, Air Canada, US Airways, British Midland, Austrian Airlines, Swiss International Airlines, Air Baltic, Air Malta, LOT, Ethiopian Airlines and United Airlines.Air One also participates in the customer fidelity programmes of Lufthansa (Mile&More), Air Canada’s Airlines Aeroplan, US Airways’s Dividend Miles, SAS’s Eurobonus and United Airlines’s Mileage Plus programmes. Air One is a member of the AEA, an association which unites Europe’s most important aircraft carriers.
Customer Services which add value
Air One, always seeking ways to make air travel easier for its passengers, offers:
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Self check-in: permits the passenger to check him/herself in for the flight and get a boarding pass at any of the numerous self check in terminals at Rome Fiumicino, Milan-Linate and Malpensa, Turin, Naples, Genoa, Trapani, Bari, Venice, Lamezia Terme and Catania airports.
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Web check-in: permits the passenger to actually check him/herself in on-line up to two hours before the scheduled departure of the flight by printing out his/her boarding pass from any computer with printer from www.flyairone.it. Equipped with SSL (Secure Sockets layer) technology, these operations can be performed in complete safety and privacy.Furthermore, the Air One Shop on the website offers the following services: hotel reservations, airport parking information and car rental.
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Fast track: this service lets premium clients pass through security checks at specially reserved booths, reducing waiting time in line and getting them into the departure area more quickly.
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Air One Lounges: there are Welcome lounges, run by Air One, at Rome Fiumicino, Milan- Linate and Turin. At the other airports, Air One passengers may use the VIP lounges of the airport itself.
Air One sectors
Air One operates in the sectors of passenger transport, (domestic and international), charter flights in collaboration with major tour operators and travel agencies to destinations in the Mediterranean, Europe and North Afrcia, aerotaxi services with Air One Executive (another company within the group which flies private planes for individuals and companies), as well as cargo and postal transport.Air One also controls the EAS handling company, which manages ground services for Air One and other airlines, as well as Air One Technic, which deals with maintenance services.
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