Aeroitalia's turbulent journey from a 2022 startup to a complex legal branding battle
In short: Launched in 2022 by an Italian transport consultant and a French investor, Aeroitalia quickly expanded its European footprint. Yet, the airline soon faced significant hurdles, including stalled long-haul ambitions, international ownership disputes, and a high-stakes legal battle over its very name. Discover how this carrier navigated its volatile early years.
Aeroitalia S.r.l began operations in July 2022, initially flying from Forlì to domestic Italian locations, Malta, and Zakynthos. Founded by CEO Francesco Gaetano Intrieri and executive chairman Marc Bourgade, the airline quickly established bases in cities including Bergamo, Genoa, and Rome–Fiumicino. While the company initially aimed to launch long-haul routes to the United States and Latin America by 2023, it eventually paused these plans to focus on consolidating its European and domestic network, which included increased service to Sicily with government support.
The airline's growth strategy involved international expansion, notably acquiring a 93.86% stake in the Romanian regional carrier AirConnect in November 2023. This subsidiary was rebranded as Aeroitalia Regional in April 2024, followed by a new base in Bacau. However, the corporate structure remained fluid; by December 2024, the regional unit was sold to Sicilian investors. That same month, Intrieri announced intentions to take the company public in 2025, a move complicated by an ongoing High Court dispute in the United Kingdom regarding allegations that Bourgade subverted a previous sale agreement.
Perhaps the most existential threat arrived in June 2025, when an Italian court ruled that Aeroitalia’s branding was too similar to the defunct Alitalia following a lawsuit by ITA Airways. The court ordered a full rebranding and the cessation of the aeroitalia.com domain by January 2026. Although the airline announced a transition to the name Air Italy in September 2025, the situation shifted again in February 2026. The company reached a settlement with ITA, allowing it to retain its original name and branding, effectively ending the legal conflict.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Aeroitalia
- Also: Wikidata — Aeroitalia · CC0
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