Alitalia and Etihad Airways have unveiled two aircraft in a unique Expo Milano 2015 livery to mark their co-sponsorship of the global event. Expo 2015 will be held in Milan up to 31 October 2015 with an estimated 20 million visitors expected to attend the event of which more than a third will travel to the northern Italian city by air.
The airlines held joint simultaneous events at Malpensa Airport in Milan and Abu Dhabi Airport to unveil the two Airbus A330-200 aircraft, to audiences gathered in both locations as well as thousands watching online around the world. The Alitalia A330-200 and the Etihad Airways A330-200, both in the eye-catching special livery, are operating their first flights between Rome and Abu Dhabi and will carry the Expo 2015 “feeding the planet, energy for life” message worldwide.
James Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Airways, said, “I am delighted to launch the Expo 2015 collaboration with Alitalia in Milan and in Abu Dhabi. From today, these two aircraft, in this eye-catching livery, will spread the important global message of Expo 2015 to people on six continents. The co-sponsorship of Expo 2015 is evidence of the growing partnership between Alitalia and Etihad Airways and will play in a key role in bringing the targeted eight million visitors from around the world to Milan. I believe Expo 2015 will once again demonstrate the power of travel and tourism to drive growth and stimulate job creation and economic development in Italy.”
Gabriele Del Torchio, Chief Executive Officer, Alitalia said, “We are very pleased to continue the joint Expo 2015 campaign with Etihad Airways and unveil these Expo 2015 livery aircraft which will be seen at airports in North America, South America, Asia and Africa – all key markets for Alitalia and from where we’ll carry passengers to Expo 2015 in Milan. We are very proud that Alitalia and Etihad Airways have been jointly chosen as the Official Global Airline Carriers. Today I want to repeat even louder that this choice reaffirms Alitalia’s important and strategic role as an infrastructural asset in Italy’s development and its commitment to travel and tourism.”
