Alitalia will support 75,700 jobs in Italy in 2016; €4.7 billion benefit to national economy

Alitalia will support 75,700 jobs throughout Italy in 2016 and make a €4.7 billion contribution to the national economy, according to a leading global consultancy.

The airline’s activities will see 29,700 people provided with employment to supply and help Alitalia’s own domestic workforce, who in turn will create further jobs by spending their wages in Italy to deliver €2.1 billion to the country’s gross domestic product. 
The workers’ figure is made up of 10,400 direct jobs at Alitalia in Italy, 8,600 indirect jobs in the airline’s supply chain and 10,700 additional jobs as employees spend their salaries in Italy’s consumer economy. 
The ‘knock-on’ indirect effect of Alitalia’s international flights will benefit tourism in Italy and boost the figures further to support 46,000 jobs throughout the country, which equates to a €2.6 billion contribution to the Italian economy.
The research conducted by UK-based Oxford Economics also determined that Alitalia’s involvement with the Etihad Aviation Group will help to maintain 4,200 people in employment, a €270 million part of the total.

Cramer Ball, Chief Executive, Alitalia, said: “The positive impact Alitalia makes to the Italian economy is hugely beneficial in terms of the number of jobs it supports nationally, both directly and indirectly. We are a significant employer in our own right but this new research shows the powerful catalytic effect that Alitalia has in terms of indirect employment. Many jobs in hotels, ground transport companies, freight forwarders, catering, manufacturing and throughout the tourism industry, all benefit from Alitalia’s presence, and suppliers to these sectors also create employment opportunities for Italians. Inbound tourism is a clear winner and I hope that in the months and years ahead the efforts of both the airline and the tourism sector will make even greater strides to build meaningful and sustainable employment opportunities for all levels of society in Italy.”

James Hogan, Vice Chairman of Alitalia and President and Chief Executive Officer of the Etihad Aviation Group, added: “As an industrial partner, we always knew that a successful turnaround of Alitalia’s business would lead to more jobs in Italy. This is a by-product of what a successful Alitalia means, and we must keep our momentum going. It is important that all stakeholders involved in the turnaround plan, remain focused, responsible and committed.”

Oxford Economics was set up 35 years ago as a commercial venture with Oxford University Business College in England, one of the world’s most renowned educational schools of excellence, to provide economic forecasting and modelling.