Milan Bergamo Airport is eyeing direct air links with the Indian subcontinent.
The Milan region is home to tens of thousands of residents of Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan origin.
The airport sees underserved potential in South Asia.
It says Northern Italy, especially the Lombardy region, is home to some of the largest South Asian communities in Europe with about half of all Indian nationals in Italy residing in the northern and central regions.
In the absence of nonstop flights from Milan Bergamo to destinations in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka, travellers must currently rely on one-stop itineraries and Middle Eastern hubs have been the big winners, the airport says.
Over the past two years, several Gulf-based airlines have launched or expanded services at Milan Bergamo specifically with an eye on transit demand to South Asia, it adds
The Airport’s management is actively courting airline partners to consider new services to the Indian subcontinent, emphasising that the market fundamentals are in place for a successful operation.
Giacomo Cattaneo, Director of Commercial Aviation, SACBO, said: “We recognise the immense potential these markets hold for both business, leisure and diaspora travel, and we are committed to enhancing our services.”
