The Italian Aerospace Information Web
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Linkair Express Takes Off

From April 3, 2006, Linkair Express – a new Italian domestic freight operator based at Milan/Linate airport – started its activity. The flight component of the service has been provided by Irish specialist Air Contractors, with two initial ATR 42-300 aircraft converted to cargo configuration; a third aircraft of the same type was added to the Linkair Express fleet in June 2006.

The initial network includes night flights – from Monday to Friday – to destinations such as Alghero (Sardinia), Bari, Catania/Fontanarossa (Sicily) and Rome/Fiumicino. The ATR 42 turboprops - transformed for freight transport - have a side loading door (1.56 m/5.12 ft height, 1,30 m/4.26 ft width), a cabin volume of 54 cubic meters/1,900 cubic feet, and a maximum useful load of 5,380 kg/11,860 lb.

In the Linkair Express’ capital, totalling 2.5 million Euro, the major shareholder is the holding company headed by Roberto Ginatta, President of Linkair Express. Other shareholders include Albertina Schiavoni and Filippo Cattadori, respectively CEO and General Manager of Freschi & Schiavoni srl, a well established air freight handling agency established in 1962. Linkair Espress’ CEO is minority shareholder Marco Morriale, former General Manager of SAGAT, the Turin/Caselle airport management agency.

In the picture: ATR 42-300 of Air Contractors used for freight services by Linkair Express of Italy (2006). (Aeromedia)

(Aeromedia, October 2006)