Air Dolomiti Thrives as Lufthansa’s Link to Italy
Italian regional airline Air Dolomite has survived the ravages of an economic crisis and stiff competition from low-fare carriers.
Air Dolomiti flies a fleet of 10 Embraer E195s, primarily out of Munich. (Photo: Air Dolomiti)
Air Dolomiti flies a fleet of 10 Embraer E195s, primarily out of Munich. (Photo: Air Dolomiti)

The debt crisis in Italy has certainly taken its toll on a wide cross-section of the country’s economy, and Verona-based regional airline Air Dolomiti hasn’t enjoyed special immunity from the effects. What CEO Michael Kraus called a brilliant period of expansion from 2005 to 2010 has not only ended, but passenger counts have actually fallen over the past two years in the Italian air transport market. Happily for Kraus and his airline’s 550 employees, its status as a 100-percent owned subsidiary of Lufthansa has helped the airline maintain its financial viability and, indeed, its standing as one of central Europe’s most strategically important regional airlines.