Italian operator Aeroitalia appears set to revive the defunct Air Italy name, after a court ruled that its current brand is too close to that of former flag-carrier Alitalia.
Several Italian publications are reporting that Aeroitalia has lost a legal dispute with ITA Airways – the successor to Alitalia – over the branding.
But the legal status of the Air Italy name is unclear. The name was previously used for a carrier in which Qatar Airways had invested, but which collapsed in February 2020.
Aeroitalia chief Gaetano Intrieri told the Italian newspaper La Repubblica that he was confident of being able to use the name, because more than five years had passed since Air Italy ceased operations.
He added that he expects an initial aircraft to be carrying the new name and livery by March next year, and the whole fleet to be rebranded by the end of 2026.
Aeroitalia, which was founded in 2022, primarily operates Boeing 737s, Embraer E-Jets and ATR turboprops.
