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Air Italy announced today that following a shareholder meeting, it has entered liquidation. The Qatar Airways backed airline has been struggling for a long time and there have been plenty of rumours that something like this might happen, but it’s still a bit of a surprise to see the decision taken so suddenly.

If you have booked tickets with Air Italy, here is the info you need:

“From 11 to 25 February 2020 inclusive , all Air Italy flights will be operated by other carriers at the times and on the days previously scheduled; all passengers who booked flights (outward or return) after 25 February 2020 will be re-protected or fully refunded.

More specifically:

• All scheduled flights (outward or return) up to and including 25 February 2020 (including the first departures on the morning of 26 February 2020 of domestic flights to Malpensa and from Male and Dakar airports) will be regularly operated, without any changes to the original scheduled dates and times and on the same flight conditions. Passengers will be able to fly using their ticket. Alternatively, passengers can always opt for a full ticket refund by emailing the following address [email protected] (or contacting their travel agency) prior to their flight’s departure time.

• For all tickets scheduled to depart by 25 February 2020 and to return after 25 February 2020:

  • – the outward journey will be regularly operated, without any changes to the original scheduled dates and times and the same flight conditions; with regards to the return flight, passengers will be offered a travel option on the first available flight of another carrier, the details of which will be provided from 18 February 2020 by calling the following number from Italy: 892928, from abroad: +39078952682, from Usa: +1 866 3876359, from Canada: +1 800 7461888, or by contacting the travel agency in the case of purchase through this channel.
  • – Alternatively, passengers can opt to claim their refund for unused flight segments, by emailing the following address [email protected] (or by contacting the travel agency if the ticket was purchased through it) prior to the flight’s departure time.

• Tickets for return flights after 25 February 2020:

  • – If purchased directly via the web (Air Italy portal) or Air Italy contact center, they will be fully refunded in a manner that will be provided via email, or requesting it at the address [email protected]

  • – If purchased through the Air Italy ticket office, they will be fully refunded by going to any Air Italy ticket office

  • – If purchased through a travel agency it will be necessary to request a refund or a change of travel by contacting the agency”

Bottom line

By entering voluntary liquidation, it seems that Air Italy is hoping to treat those who have booked tickets as fairly as they can. The plan is for flights in the immediate future (until 25th Feb) to take place as scheduled, and for full refunds to be provided to anyone with tickets for a later date. Whether the airline actually possesses the finances to make good on those aspirations remains to be seen, but by taking a decision today, the odds are surely better than if they had just waited for an unstructured collapse.

That said, it is always worth remembering that if you pay with a credit card, your credit card company should ultimately be able to refund you in situations like this.

Were you booked to fly with Air Italy?