Air One made a bold business and political statement about Milan’s Malpensa airport on Thursday, saying it was restarting flights from the site just as Alitalia is pushing through huge cuts.

The status of Malpensa – one of two Milan airports – is a crucial part of the debate over the future of Alitalia. The loss-making airline, whose main Italian rival is Air One, is in the process of being sold by the state to Air France-KLM but has been caught up in the campaign for next month’s general elections.