The Italian aviation sector wasn’t ever going to be ready for the disruption a small, rebranded airline was about to present to a monopoly-driven air travel market that’s for years been shrouded in government interference, corruption, and a long-standing expectation that “the flag carrier is invincible, bankrupt or not, regardless of competition” as one former Alitalia official was quoted saying.

Ready to shake up air travel in Italy, ‘Air Italy’ became Europe’s newest airline in February 2018, when Meridiana and it’s charter subsidiary (which was named Air Italy) merged to form the new Air Italy that’s flying today. The rebrand took place following the joint investment from just two investors. Italy’s Alisarda owns a majority 51% stake in Air Italy, with the remaining 49% stake owned by one of the Middle East’s largest airlines, Qatar Airways. Qatar Airways investment portfolio is extensive, and the airline holds key stakes in airlines including British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, LATAM, Cathay Pacific, and China Southern.