BRITISHAirways is expected to unveil plans for an Italian domestic carrier this autumn, as exclusively revealed in Travel Weekly on March 22.
The airline is currently finalising deals with partners before launching flights to rival Alitalia and Meridiana.
A BA spokeswoman confirmed that BA was in talks with potential franchise partners in Italy.
She refused to say when an announcement on schedules and routes would be made.
BA is believed to be talking to Australian airline National Jet Systems to operate routes from Rome with BAe 146 jets. NJS is expected to use the Air Operators’ Certificate of charter British World Airlines.
The name of the new airline, which could link services to BA’s UK-Italy flights in Milan, has yet to be unveiled, although National Jets Italia has been suggested.