US senators call for probe of Qatar Airways’ support of Air Italy

A group of 11 senators have called on the US govt to examine whether Qatar Airways’ financial support for Air Italy may violate a commitment by the airline not to conduct fifth freedom flights to the US. In a Dec 3 letter sent to the secretaries of the DoT, Commerce and State, the group of Republican senators expressed concern that Qatar Airways may be subsidising Air Italy—of which it owns a 49% stake—to operate “commercially questionable” daily nonstop services between Milan, Italy, and New York, as well as 4X-weekly services between Milan and Miami, Florida. The lawmakers said Air Italy’s entry into the “crowded market appears consistent with Qatar Airways’ pattern of adding subsidised capacity in markets where demand is already served.” <br/>