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Italian court blocks Emirates' New York to Milan route
Emirates Airline's plans for expansion is in jeopardy after an Italian court moved to block the Dubai-based carrier's new route between Milan and New York.
The administrative court's ruling in Rome was a response to a complaint filed last year by Assaereo, the trade group representing Alitalia and other Italian airlines, the Wall Street Journal reports. Delta Air Lines has backed the suit.
The airlines have argued that the new service violates international aviation laws. Alitalia, Delta and American are Emirates' main competitors on the lucrative route. Of the four, Emirates is the only one offering a first-class cabin.
The Journal reports:
"The airline industry has closely watched the Emirates' flight, launched in October, as a sign of how three fast-growing Persian Gulf-based carriers may pursue expansion beyond their hometown hubs. Emirates, the world's largest international airline by traffic through its Dubai hub, is the biggest of the trio, which also includes Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways of Abu Dhabi."
Emirates' flight between Milan Malpensa and New York's JFK International airports was an extension of one of its three existing daily Dubai to Milan flights, according to the Journal.
RELATED: Emirates adds New York to Milan route
ALSO ONLINE: Gulf airlines lure fliers with new planes, better service
In a statement Thursday, Assaereo argued that the right to use Milan as a stopover cannot be granted to a non-European Union carrier or to an airline from a country that isn't the point of departure or the destination, Reuters reports.
Etihad, a competitor of Emirates, is in talks to buy a large stake in Alitalia, Reuters reports.
Emirates is considering an appeal of the ruling. It's unclear if it will have to suspend the JFK to Milan route in the meantime.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/today...s-new-york-milan-italian-court-block/7582919/
Emirates Airline's plans for expansion is in jeopardy after an Italian court moved to block the Dubai-based carrier's new route between Milan and New York.
The administrative court's ruling in Rome was a response to a complaint filed last year by Assaereo, the trade group representing Alitalia and other Italian airlines, the Wall Street Journal reports. Delta Air Lines has backed the suit.
The airlines have argued that the new service violates international aviation laws. Alitalia, Delta and American are Emirates' main competitors on the lucrative route. Of the four, Emirates is the only one offering a first-class cabin.
The Journal reports:
"The airline industry has closely watched the Emirates' flight, launched in October, as a sign of how three fast-growing Persian Gulf-based carriers may pursue expansion beyond their hometown hubs. Emirates, the world's largest international airline by traffic through its Dubai hub, is the biggest of the trio, which also includes Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways of Abu Dhabi."
Emirates' flight between Milan Malpensa and New York's JFK International airports was an extension of one of its three existing daily Dubai to Milan flights, according to the Journal.
RELATED: Emirates adds New York to Milan route
ALSO ONLINE: Gulf airlines lure fliers with new planes, better service
In a statement Thursday, Assaereo argued that the right to use Milan as a stopover cannot be granted to a non-European Union carrier or to an airline from a country that isn't the point of departure or the destination, Reuters reports.
Etihad, a competitor of Emirates, is in talks to buy a large stake in Alitalia, Reuters reports.
Emirates is considering an appeal of the ruling. It's unclear if it will have to suspend the JFK to Milan route in the meantime.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/today...s-new-york-milan-italian-court-block/7582919/
