Italian carrier Meridiana has been in the news for its rebranding as Air Italy. The Qatar Airways-backed carrier is taking on bankrupt Alitalia to become Italy’s national airline. It’s upgrading its fleet and services and has a massive growth plan.

And right now there’s a $600 roundtrip business class fare between Cairo and New York JFK. There are certainly readers who are going to like this enough to position to Cairo to take advantage of this deal.

Key details of fare basis IHITRT:

• Travel permitted July 1 through August 13 and December 26 through December 30
  
• Must issue tickets by March 20, but I can’t imagine this fare will be around that long

This is a $52 each way fare that’s half fuel surcharges and the rest taxes.

Air Italy wants to join oneworld. Qatar Airways is a oneworld airline, they are the largest owner of British Airways and Iberia parent IAG (both oneworld airlines) . They’ve also moved to take stakes in oneworld carriers LATAM and Cathay Pacific. The only wrinkle could be public animosity American Airlines has aimed at Qatar.

In the meantime these flights can be credited to British Airways Executive Club and earn 125% of miles flown.

(HT: God Save the Points)