Italian airlines against Emirates: no to expansion on Malpensa. Fontana: "Absurd"

Italian airlines are pressing ENAC to block Emirates' expansion plans at Milan Malpensa airport. The protest exploded following the bureaucratic process initiated by the Arab carrier to obtain "fifth freedom" rights on the direct route Milan Malpensa – Lima (Peru). According to what was exclusively reported by Corriere della Sera, Italian carriers accuse the Emirati company of wanting to transform the Lombardy airport into its own intercontinental hub. An outcry, therefore, from Ita Airways, Neos Air and Aeroitalia who argue that granting these rights to a non-EU company would take away huge market shares and damage competition.

Fontana's position

“I believe that Malpensa has the right to have other lines because people want to come here and need to come; therefore, it is absurd that they try to get planes where there is no need,” said the governor of Lombardy, Attilio Fontana, on the sidelines of an Assolombarda event. "It is absurd that there is an artful attempt to get planes to where there is no need. We are in favor of granting this line which would open an important line towards South America as well as towards Dubai" he added.