Fusioni & Acquisizioni

✈ Shankh Air, an Indian airline, received approval from the Ministry of Aviation to start operations, pending final clearance from India's regulatory body. The airline has already begun hiring and is in advanced talks to lease Boeing 737 aircraft. This reflects India's booming aviation market, which has seen a flurry of large orders. Please note that I don't have access to current or future dates, and the article does not specify any exact dates for the events described. Additionally, no statistical data is provided, so such information is not included in the summary.

🏨 Radisson Hotel Group has rebranded Prizeotel as Prize by Radisson, aiming at the mid-tier lifestyle hotel segment. Two new contracts in Central Europe have been signed under this brand. The rebranding aligns with the Group's premium values and 'Yes I Can!' service ethos, offering quality services within an informal experience. Prize by Radisson will continue providing affordable mid-tier lifestyle hotel experiences with spacious and bright communal areas for both leisure and business clients.

🏡 Lefay Resorts & Residences expands with five new villas at Lefay Resort & SPA Lago di Garda, Gargnano, opened in 2008. Sky Pool Villas, ranging from 300 to 550 sqm with private gardens and infinity pools, on sale from €3.5 million, set for delivery by summer 2025. Owners enjoy 5-star services, 4,300 sqm SPA, restaurants, and inclusion in a rental program. CEO Alcide Leali highlights the successful model after Lefay Resort & SPA Dolomiti sold all 21 units.

🏖️ Dimensione Sicilia announces the 2024/25 edition of Sicilian Secrets, a series of tours exploring Sicily's authentic winter. Four itineraries correspond to four festivals: the Immaculate Conception tour showcasing festive decorations and traditional flavors; New Year's Eve immersed in local culture; a trip for St. Agatha's day celebrating Catania's patron saint with one of Italy's most thrilling religious festivals; and the Acireale Carnival, known for its spectacular masks and folklore.

📌 In Italy, religious and non-profit accommodations saw a +10% average increase in guests during summer compared to the same period in 2023, with a peak of +13% in coastal areas. Foreign visitors increased by +9% nationally, favoring nature-immersed retreats away from tourist crowds with a +14% rise. Despite a 3% average rate increase in art cities, seaside, and nature retreats, and 1.5% in mountain facilities, 92% of managers were satisfied, as the funds will support charitable and social missions of organizations with 200,000 beds across all Italian provinces.

🏡 Four Italian hotels featured in The World's 50 Best Hotels: Passalacqua on Lake Como ranked second and won Best Boutique Hotel 2024. Other Italian hotels listed include Four Seasons Florence, Borgo Santandrea, and Castello di Reschio. Capella Bangkok topped the ranking, with Rosewood Hong Kong and Cheval Blanc Paris following. Italy's luxury hospitality highlighted.

📍 Lufthansa is nearing the completion of acquiring 41% of Ita Airways, working closely with the Italian Ministry of Treasury. By November 3, 2024, following EU Antitrust approval, the companies must identify competitors for North American routes from Rome to Washington, San Francisco, and Toronto. 15 daily slot pairs at Linate Airport and short-haul routes will open to competition, overseen by Nocon. A competitive process will facilitate North American route access, either by direct flights or through airlines offering connecting flights via European hubs. The final agreement, triggering a €325 million capital increase by Lufthansa for the 41% stake, is expected by December 2024, with options for additional share transfers from 2025.

📍 Following the collapse of the German tourism giant FTI, Tui acquired most of the company's activities in the Canary Islands, significantly boosting passenger numbers and improving performance. Despite also gaining ground in Turkey after FTI's failure, Tui faces less optimistic prospects there due to the country's high inflation.

✈ Air Senegal will suspend seven international routes starting next week, including the flight from Dakar to Milan. The six-year-old carrier is facing a severe financial crisis. Routes to be suspended are New York, Milan, Barcelona, Libreville, Douala, Marseille, and Lyon. The suspension takes effect on September 20, with refund details provided by Aviareps, the airline's representative in Italy.

✈️ EasyJet, the second-largest airline in Italy, carried over 20 million passengers last year on 226 routes from 21 Italian airports. The winter 2024 season will see a 7.5% increase in offerings, with an eighth aircraft in Naples and 13 new routes from Milan Malpensa and Naples, including destinations like Tromsø, Cairo, Oslo, Rabat, Alicante, and Prague. EasyJet plans to reorganize operations in Italy, reallocating aircraft from Venice to ensure long-term success, but will maintain connections to major European destinations from Venice. Lorenzo Lagorio, country manager of easyJet Italy, highlighted investment growth in Lombardy, Campania, and other Italian destinations. If selected as a remedy taker in the Ita Airways and Lufthansa agreement, easyJet aims to open bases at Milan Linate and Rome Fiumicino by summer 2025.