Etihad Airways and Alitalia official global Airline Carriers for Expo 2015

Abu Dhabi (WAM): Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, and Alitalia, the national airline of Italy and a partner of the SkyTeam Alliance, have jointly been named as Official Global Airline Carriers for Expo 2015, the upcoming Universal Exposition to be held in Milan from 1st May to 31st October 2015. An estimated 20 million visitors are expected to attend Expo 2015, of which approximately 7.6 million will travel to Milan by air, with 1.5 million arriving from intercontinental destinations, 3.3 million from international destinations and 2.8 million from within Italy. As a commitment to the event, Etihad Airways Alitalia will offer almost 100 flights per day to and from Milan, linking 866 cities across the globe through 125 direct flights and a further 741 via one-stop connections. James Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said, "Italy is a strategic market for Etihad Airways and teaming up with Alitalia as an Official Global Airline Carrier for Expo 2015 is a natural extension of our existing code-share agreement. "Through our vast international route network, Etihad Airways will play a leading role in promoting Expo 2015 to a global audience, focussing on key markets across the Gulf region, Australia, Asia, and the Subcontinent. "In the coming months, Etihad Airways and Alitalia will unveil an iconic Expo 2015 pavilion, and we look forward to welcoming guests from all over the world through its doors from 1st May 2015." Gabriele Del Torchio, Chief Executive Officer of Alitalia, said, "We are very proud that Alitalia and Etihad Airways have been jointly chosen as the Official Global Airline Carriers. "With our partner Etihad Airways, we look forward to offering visitors from around the globe convenient and comfortable flights to what will be the event of 2015." Giuseppe Sala, CEO of the Expo 2015 Company, said, "We are pleased to have Alitalia and Etihad Airways as partners of Expo Milano 2015. We want 20 million people to visit the Exhibition site, and we expect 8 million to come from abroad. We know that a worldwide operating asset is needed to support us in reaching this goal. "The partnership with Alitalia and Etihad Airways is in line with our target. From now on even during the six-month World Expo all the initiatives will have a double value; on the one hand they will be useful to promote the Event, and on the other they will make travelling to and from Milan easier. In this way, they will also contribute to give the best welcome to all people visiting Italy and taking part in the event". – Emirates News Agency, WAM –