Ryanair (FR, Dublin International (DUB)) has welcomed the European Union Court’s ruling which confirmed that the European Commission had failed to investigate Italian government aid to Alitalia (AZ, Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci International (FCO)) granted in 2006. The Irish LCC added that the ruling reaffirmed the 2011 decision of the European General Court, which also ruled that the Commission had failed in its duty to investigate this "State Aid". With the Italian national carrier having posted a 2012 net loss of EUR280million and an overall debt of more than EUR1billion, a ruling forcing it to repay state aide would further exacerbate its already poorly financial state. Alitalia has also been forced to deny rumours that a possible tie up with Meridiana (IG, Olbia Costa Smeralda (OLB)) was on the cards calling them "unfounded and imaginative".

Armavia (U8, Yerevan Zvartnots (EVN)) believes that the Armenian government's pending plans to further liberalize its skies by inviting foreign carriers such as Austrian Airlines (OS, Vienna International (VIE)), Alitalia (AZ, Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci International (FCO)), CSA Czech Airlines (OK, Prague Vaclav Havel Ruzyne (PRG)) and flydubai (FZ, Dubai International (DXB)) to freely use Yerevan Zvartnots (EVN) will prove disastrous for the country's home-grown aviation scene in the long run. During a recent meeting of the country's National Council in Yerevan in which a possible financial bailout of the bankrupt carrier was discussed at both Ministerial and Presidential level, the Armenian Department of Civil Aviation proposed a deregulation of the country's skies in order to help improve regional and international connectivity, as well as make air travel more accessible, a move the airline said would have a devastating impact on domestic operators if implemented.

Darwin Airline (F7, Lugano Agno (LUG)) is set to base one of it's Saab 2000s in Leipzig/Halle (LEJ) where it will be used to operate double daily flights to both Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) from September onwards. Speculation is mounting regarding a possible announcement due later this week over a much anticipated tie up between the Swiss operator and Air France-KLM. Darwin Airline currently has deals with CSA Czech Airlines (OK, Prague Vaclav Havel Ruzyne (PRG)) and Alitalia (AZ, Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci International (FCO)) in which it provides a feeder service under its own flight numbers albeit under a codeshare with the Skyteam carriers. In other related news, flights from Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci International (FCO) to Ancona Falconara (AOI), currently operated by Alitalia will cease by May 30 following which Darwin Airline will start four times daily Saab 2000 service on the route with Alitalia codesharing on the flights.

Carpatair (V3, Timisoara Traian Vuia International (TSR)) have returned their last remaining ATR72-500 YR-ATR (c/n 555) to leasor, Nordic Aviation Capital, following the cancellation of the Romanian operator's contract with Alitalia (AZ, Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci International (FCO)). Carpatair had wet-leased two of its ATR72-500s to Alitalia for use on its Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci International (FCO) to Bologna Guglielmo Marconi (BLQ) and Pisa Galileo Galilei International (PSA) flights until one of the aircraft, YR-ATS (c/n 533), veered off the runway on roll out at Fiumicino in February resulting in the contract being suspended and then cancelled outright.

Alitalia (AZ, Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci International (FCO)) has appointed Gabriele Del Torchio as its chief executive officer. Del Torchio, an Italian manager who turned around the fortunes of Ducati, the Bologna-based motorcycle manufacturer, replaces Andrea Ragnetti, who quit in February after the Italian national carrier posted a net loss of EUR 280million. According to Corriere della Sera, Del Torchio will have to "radically cut costs in order to meet a key company objective of balancing the books by this year," in preparation for the carrier's planned sell off to Air France-KLM who currently have a 25% stake in the company.