Air Dolomiti Reports 26% Passenger Growth and Fleet Expansion in 1999
Air Dolomiti, the first Italian interregional air transport company, closed the first half of 1999 with very positive traffic results: the number of passengers transported by the company during this period increased by 26% compared to the total passengers carried in the first six months of 1998.
The load factor recorded in the semester is also confirmed as being in line with the load factor of the same period last year. Semester 1998 – 1999
| First half of 1998 | First half of 1999 | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total passengers | 235,000 | 295,457 | +26% |
| Domestic passengers | 6,807 | 2,550 | – 63% |
| International passengers | 202,773 | 245,193 | +219% |
| Passengers on other flights | 25,420 | 47,714 | +88% |
| Line Load Factor | 53.4% | 52.6% |
New Routes and Fleet Expansion
The increase in passenger numbers was achieved through the opening of new routes, increased frequency of flights from certain airports, and the recent addition of jet aircraft to the fleet, which have enabled new connections and increased capacity on existing routes.
In the first six months of this year, Air Dolomiti launched four major new line services. At the end of March, Milan Orio to Munich, with a frequency of three times a day; from early May, Venice to Barcelona with daily service; from mid-May, Venice to Paris twice daily; and from mid-June, Brescia to Rome Fiumicino twice daily.
The Fleet and Aircraft Configuration
The Air Dolomiti fleet now consists of fifteen aircraft: thirteen new-generation turboprops from Consorzio Europeo AIR (five ATR SUPER 320 and five ATR 500 with 46 seats; three ATR 700 with 64 seats) and two Fokker 100 jets with 89 seats.
Two jet aircraft, operated in wet lease, will be configured according to Air Dolomiti standards by September: with the company’s livery (already adopted), interior arrangements in the distinctive colors, and a new configuration with only 89 seats. The aircraft will feature all leather seats, with the front 12 seats in business class, equipped with very spacious seats separated by 35 inches to ensure maximum comfort for passengers.
