Brussels, 17/03/2000 (Agence Europe) - Twelve European aviation companies announced on Friday that they where lodging complaints with the European Commission against the Italian decree that allocates flights from the Milanese airports of Malpensa and Linate. The "Bersani decree" must enter into force next 20 April. "The complaint is not suspending" reminded the European Commission's transport spokesperson. The Italian government will be informed of this challenge and will be invited to respond in the next fifteen days. He added that the Commission "will then look to make a statement as soon as possible." This is the fourth decree that the Commission must study since 1996 for the launching of the Malpensa 2000 airport, partly financed by the EIB.
The twelve aviation companies feel that the methods of allocating of flights are against the rules of non-discrimination and proportionality set by European regulation 2408/92 concerning access to community airlines on inter-Community flights. In their opinion, the Bersani decree was "tailor made" for the Italian company Alitalia: the ceiling of a minimum of 2.8 million passengers per year set to preserve a flight to Linate was set because the only route that corresponds to the criteria is that of Milan-Rome. Furthermore, Italy authorises certain flights towards "Objective 1" areas of European regional policy to remain in Linate, which in practice will serve as connections from Linate to Lisbon and the south of Italy. However, for the companies, the Linate airport that is 20 minutes from Milan, is much more attractive than that of Malpensa that is much further away. Furthermore the companies feel that Malpensa has already reached its limit in terms of capacity and that the new environmental measures aimed a reducing the disturbance caused by noise will worsen the situation. Basing itself of the "experts report" on air traffic control, they fear that the capacity of 70 movements per hour, foreseen for Malpensa will be put into question.
According to the data delivered during a press conference, the enforcement of the decree will enable Alitalia to keep an unlimited number of flights towards its hub (its main platform) in Rome and it will be able to keep sixty odd connections to Linate while: a) British Airways, will be able to keep three daily flights to Heathrow, against a previous dozen, b) Air France: two flight per day to Paris, against a previous seven, c) Iberia, Lufthansa, Olympic Airways, Sabena: one daily light towards their respective hubs, against a previous 5-15 (in the case of Lufthansa), d) TAP Air Portugal: one daily connection towards Lisbon. Furthermore Aer Lingus, SAS (previously 4 connections), Finair, Maersk Air, Austrian Airlines (previously 3 connections) will no longer be able to operate from Linate towards their hubs. For the SAS representative, Hans Ollongren, "we have been literally thrown out of Linate. With only one authorised daily flight from this airport, we cannot insure day return flight for our business customers who represent the majority of our Milan bound passengers. We require at least 3 flight per day."