Aeroplan makes further aggressive move into Europe
Canada-based loyalty scheme Groupe Aeroplan is continuing its aggressive expansion into Europe with the planned C$24m launch of a new coalition loyalty programme in Italy in 2010. 
Aeroplan says it has already signed up a number of retail partners for the programme, which will be 75% owned by Aeroplan and is to be modelled after the Nectar programme in Britain, which Aeroplan purchased two years ago from Loyalty Management UK.
Nectar, like the Aeroplan scheme in Canada, is a coalition programme enabling clients to accumulate points from multiple retailers using one card.
“We have publicly stated that we intend to grow our core business offering and I am delighted that we are making good progress in executing this strategy in Italy,” Rupert Duchesne, Aeroplan’s chief executive, said in a statement.
Originally conceived as an Air Canada frequent-flyer programme, Aeroplan was spun off by airline parent ACE Aviation in 2005.
Details about Aeroplan’s expansion came just one day after the loyalty programme saidit would lend C$100m to its former owner and major partner Air Canada, which is struggling to avoid a liquidity crunch brought on by the weak economy and rising cash obligations. The loan is secured against the airline’s vacation division.