Alitalia is the national carrier of Italy. Its name consists of the Italian words for wings and Italy. The SkyTeam member owns a fleet of around 150 aircraft with an average age of 12.3 years. Flights to around 100 destinations on all continents except Australia are provided. The Italian government currently offers a large share of the airline to complete privatization, as Alitalia is in severe financial trouble.
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Alitalia was founded on September 16, 1946, by the Italian government and British European Airways (BEA) as Aerolinee Italiane Internazionali (already back then more commonly known as Alitalia). The inaugural flight took place on May 5, 1947, when a Fiat G-12 Alcione flew from Turin to Catania via Rome. Two months later, the first international flight was from Rome to Oslo.
Around the same time, Linee Aeree Italiane (LAI) was founded by the Italian government and Trans-World Airlines (TWA) and supposed to concentrate on the domestic market.
Already in March 1948, the first intercontinental flight was operated, a Lancastrian flew from Milan to cities in South America.
On October 31, 1957, Alitalia merged with Linee Aeree Italiane. The new company was consequently called Alitalia Linee Aeree Italiane (short: Alitalia).
The jet age for Alitalia began in 1960, when the first DC-8s and Caravelles were introduced. In the same year, the airline became official carrier of the Olympics in Rome.
In 1961, BEA gave its 40 % share of Alitalia to the Italian government. In 1969, the still present Alitalia logo was introduced.
By the 1970s, Alitalia reached all inhabited continents; by 1990 they were carrying nearly 25 million passengers annually.
Alitalia established a regional subsidiary in 1997 – Alitalia Express. 2001 was marked by Alitalia’s joining of SkyTeam Alliance. The airline’s frequent flyer program, MilleMiglia, was subsequently integrated into the SkyTeam alliance program.
In 2004, Alitalia found itself in financial trouble. The company announced it was not able to pay all wages. Only a bridging loan from the Italian government could avoid bankruptcy and possibly liquidation. Plans to lay off staff and divide the company into airline and ground division were made.
In 2005, the European Commission investigated the plans to restructure the company to make sure it does not receive illegal subsidies.
In 2006, Alitalia still was the national airline of Italy, but the government only owned 49 % of the company. Furthermore, it offered privatization of the airline in January 2007, due to the financial trouble Alitalia is in – it loses 50,000 € per hour. Bidders have to buy at least 30.1 % of the airline, because from 30 %, under Italian law, a public offer is mandatory.
Alitalia owns around 150 aircraft with an average age of 12.3 years. Flights to around 100 destinations on all continents except Australia are provided. The main hubs are Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport, Rome, and Malpensa International Airport, Milan.
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