Italy’s state-controlled railway Ferrovie dello Stato (FS) said Wednesday it would start negotiations with Delta and easyJet to draft a rescue plan for Alitalia. Alitalia was put under special administration in 2017 after workers rejected the latest in a long line of rescue plans, leaving the government once again seeking a buyer to save the airline. It will be the third rescue in a decade. FS said in a statement that both Delta and easyJet had confirmed their interest in being the railway group’s industrial partners in the Alitalia deal. EasyJet confirmed that it was in discussions with FS and Delta about forming a consortium to explore options for the future of Alitalia, but added that there was “no certainty at this stage that any transaction will proceed”. Delta also confirmed that it has submitted a “general and non-binding letter of interest” to Ferrovie dello Stato. FS has always said it was willing to put in an offer for Alitalia provided it was flanked by one or more industrial partners. Earlier on Wednesday, Italy’s government said it was willing to participate in the creation of a “New Alitalia” via an investment from the Treasury on the condition that this was in line with European rules and that there was a sustainable business plan in place.<br/>
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Grupo Aeromexico reported a net loss for 2018 of MXP1.9b (US$98.6m), reversed from a MXP18m net income a year earlier. Headwinds faced by the Mexico City-based carrier in 2018 included a 35.6% year-over-year increase in fuel costs and a 4.8% annual inflation rate. The airline’s full-year revenue rose 14.3% to MXP70.3b, compared to MXP61.5b in 2017, reflecting gains in passenger, ancillary and cargo revenue. Aeromexico’s total capacity was up 8.2% YOY to 52.9m ASKs. Passenger traffic increased 9% to 43.4m RPKs, and the average annual load factor was up 0.6 points to 82.1%. Yield rose 4% to MXP1.388. Total RASK increased 5.8% to MXP1.327 and total CASK rose 8.1% to MXP1.321. The group carried 21.9m passengers in 2018, a 5.9% YOY increase. Aeromexico reported a full-year operating profit of MXP9m, compared to MXP3.1b in 2017, with a zero operating margin, down 5.1 points.<br/>
Korean Air will lose its monopoly over an air route linking Incheon and Mongolia's capital of Ulaanbaatar as the government plans to allow Asiana Airlines or a low-cost carrier to operate on the lucrative route, according to industry officials Tuesday. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is expected to grant a new license on the Incheon-Mongolia air route this month, and Asiana Airlines, Jeju Air, T'way Air and Eastar Jet are vying to win it. The route has been monopolized by Korean Air for nearly 30 years due to the two countries' 1991 aeronautical agreement allowing only one carrier from each country to provide air travel service. From Mongolia, MIAT Mongolian Airlines is operating flights to Incheon. Due to their monopolization, criticisms have been raised that ticket prices were too expensive compared to other routes with similar flight hours, and the number of available seats was insufficient. <br/>
Two KLM widebodies have been involved in a minor ground collision at Amsterdam Schiphol airport. "During pushback two [aircraft] have accidentally made contact," Schiphol's operator said. It specifies the flight numbers as KL601 and KL623. There was "no further effect on scheduled flights", says Schiphol's operator, adding: "The cause will be investigated." Flight Fleets Analyzer lists KLM as the manager of the 747, which is owned by a Bermudan entity named Minots Light. The 787, meanwhile, is leased from AerCap. KLM confirmed wing-tip damage and says both aircraft are "grounded for repair". It stressed that "the safety of the passengers has not been compromised at any moment", and that rebookings were made so that passengers could "continue their journey as quickly as possible".<br/>