Italy and Russia have made a bunch of deals, and one of those includes an enhanced alliance between Aeroflot and Alitalia, who are already SkyTeam partners. We’re just at the announcement page at this point, but if this is implemented well I see some interesting opportunities.
The biggest opportunity is that each airline can fill in some holes in the other’s route network. For example, Aeroflot’s only African presence is in Egypt, and has no South American routes, and Alitalia can help there. Meanwhile, Alitalia is a bit weak in Asia, where Aerflot fits in. The airlines will “implement a wide ranging reciprocal codeshare” that will “improve their joint presence on key aviation markets.” Naturally, the two airlines said that they would be working on their networks to make connections either.
Meanwhile, both will “intend to also extend mutual access to their loyalty programs and to harmonize their passenger service standards.” They will also “partner in information technology, charter and cargo traffic as well as in the other spheres of the airlines’ activity.”
This is only an announcement, but I like what the two carriers are planning. You can see the whole announcement here.
Gone those old days when Aeroflot was flying to many countries in Africa. The Aeroflot’s African network of destinations was mainly supported by the government of Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in an attempt to spread the communist ideology.
Now, Aeroflot is code-sharing with Alitalia to go back to Africa for supposedly real commercial reasons.
Too bad each has an abysmal reputation.