By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Travel Radar - Aviation NewsTravel Radar - Aviation News
  • Breaking News
  • Aviation
    • Aircraft
    • Airlines
    • Airshow & Events
    • Careers
    • Manufacturing
  • Travel
    • Airports
    • Points & Loyalty
    • Technology
    • Trip Reviews
  • Newsletters
Reading: A 74-year-old History Comes to an End: Arrivederci Alitalia
Share
Sign In
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Font ResizerAa
Travel Radar - Aviation NewsTravel Radar - Aviation News
  • Breaking News
  • Aviation
    • Aircraft
    • Airlines
    • Airshow & Events
    • Careers
    • Manufacturing
  • Travel
    • Airports
    • Points & Loyalty
    • Technology
    • Trip Reviews
  • Newsletters
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
Copyright © Travel Radar Media Ltd. 2024 | All Rights Reserved
Travel Radar - Aviation News > News > A 74-year-old History Comes to an End: Arrivederci Alitalia

A 74-year-old History Comes to an End: Arrivederci Alitalia

Giacomo Amati
Last updated: 19 July 2021 16:08
By Giacomo Amati 5 Min Read
Share
Alitalia A330 landing in Toronto.
SHARE

It’s been 74 years since Alitalia made its first flight, from Turin to Catania, with a stopover in Rome, operated with a Fiat G-12 E. Now, more than seven decades later, the Italian flag carrier prepares for its retirement. It’s high time a new airline replaced the airline, and ITA – Italia Trasporto Aereo – is ready to take to the skies.

14th October 2021: The End of an Era

On this day, Alitalia, which is in special administration since May 2nd, 2017, will fly for the last time. The next day will see the debut of the brand new Italian flag carrier, ITA – Italia Trasporto Aereo.

After months of negotiations, the EU Commission has given the “go ahead” for the launch of the Newco, whose main stakeholder is the Italian Ministry of Economics and Finance (MEF – Ministero dell’Economia e delle Finanze). But how will the new Italian national carrier look like?

Passengers boarding an Alitalia flight. Photo by Marcel Pirnay

A New Beginning

ITA’s fleet will decrease in size, from the actual 85 planes to 52. Apparently a small fleet, but Fabio Lazzerini, CEO of the airline, stated the number of aircraft is appropriate for the current passenger traffic. Although other carriers indeed have larger fleets, one should look at how many planes are now flying, given the restrictions against the pandemic and the reduced amount of people taking a plane. Moreover, the number of aircraft in the fleet is expected to increase in the following years, more precisely to 78 in 2022 and 105 by the end of 2025.

For its start, ITA will need far fewer employees. Of the 11,000 people now working for Alitalia, just about 2,750 will be hired by ITA, with new and more flexible contracts, similar to those currently offered by other European airlines. By 2025, there should be about 5,550/5,700 additional hirings for a total of 8,650 employees.  ITA will inherit just the aviation branch of Alitalia for a start. For handling, maintenance (Alitech), and the Alitalia brand, there will be a call for public tenders, to whom ITA will take part and, if won, could bring in additional 4,000 jobs.

An Alitalia A330 landing at Fiumicino. Photo by Aldo Bidini

ITA had to give up part of Alitalia’s slots at its major hubs in Italy: in Linate, ITA will keep 81% of Alitalia’s slots, while in Rome, 43%.  In 2021, ITA will fly to 45 destinations, of which 21 are in Italy, with 61 routes. By 2025, destinations will have increased to 74, with 89 routes.

To fulfil the principle of discontinuity with the old Alitalia, strongly requested by the EU Commission, ITA will not inherit the loyalty programme of the old flag carrier, MilleMiglia. For this reason, ITA is already working on a brand new fidelity programme, flexible and in line with current customers’ needs.

As far as the Alitalia brand is concerned, Lazzerini knows it is a precious asset for the airline. Although it is often associated with anger and disappointment in Italy, people worldwide have come to know it as a mark of quality. Regarding the brand, the CEO stated:

It has a 74-year history. It is a brand that is adored and loved, especially abroad. This is because it has the Italian flag, which is one of the most popular colour combinations in the world, and because it recalls living like an Italian, which is something that is viewed with great respect abroad. We therefore believe it is a fundamental element of our industrial plan. Unfortunately, due to the conditions imposed on us, we cannot buy it directly, but we have to take part in a tender. Which we will do everything to win.

If everything went smoothly, ITA should register a turnover of € 3 billion by 2025, and it should balance the accounts already within two years.

Do you think ITA will be a successful flag carrier? Let us know in the comments below! 

You Might Also Like

Air New Zealand Set to Receive New Airbus A231neo

PSA Airlines Set to Debut Aircraft 639 in July 2025

TAP Air Portugal: Terceira To San Francisco

BETA Technologies Lands Passenger-Carrying Electric Aircraft

Etihad Airways Enhances Sydney Route

Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Email Copy Link
What’s your thoughts?
Love0
Sad0
Happy0
Angry0
Giacomo Amati
By Giacomo Amati
Follow:
Aviation Reporter - Giacomo has been passionate about commercial aviation since his very childhood. Currently, he is pursuing a Master in Air Transport Management at the University of Surrey, UK. His expertise within the industry entails an internship with Emirates Airlines in Milan Malpensa airport and a bachelor's thesis on the financial status of the former Italian national carrier, Alitalia. Besides aviation, Giacomo loves foreign languages, German being his favourite one, and travelling.
Previous Article Qatar Airways plane taking off How Qatar is Preparing for World Cup 2022
Next Article Emirates Airline Emirates Airline Suspends Flights To Several Subcontinental Countries
Leave a comment
Subscribe
Login
Notify of
guest
guest
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Upvoted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Stay Connected

FacebookLike
TwitterFollow
InstagramFollow
YoutubeSubscribe

Trending News

Professor Ahmet Bolat
Turkish Airlines Chairman secures second term of IATA board
Airline Economics Airlines
STARLUX Airlines Starwalker 801
Etihad Airways signs codeshare partnership with STARLUX Airlines
Airline Economics Airlines Route Development
Emirates Aircraft
Emirates Reveal Two New Routes Across East Asia
Aircraft Airlines Route Development
TEF internship group
Jamaica’s Tourism Initiative: TEF’s Summer Internship Pulls in 12000 Applicants
Aviation Careers
An image of a STARLUX aircraft arriving at Taipei Songshan Airport.
STARLUX Airlines Begins Taipei-California Flights
Airlines Airports Route Development Travel
//

Travel Radar is the leading digital hub for all things aviation and air-travel. Discover our latest aviation news, aviation data, insight and analysis.

Discover

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Careers
  • Press & PR
  • Privacy & Legal

Our Content

  • News
  • Data
  • Images
  • Jobs
  • Subscribe

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

Click here to Signup!

© Travel Radar Media Ltd. 2015-2025 | ISSN #2635-0696 | Trademark #UK00003579704
wpDiscuz
adbanner
AdBlock Detected
Ads help us bring you high-quality, independent journalism for free. Support us by whitelisting us from your ad blocker.
Okay, I'll Whitelist
Welcome to the TR Community!

Sign in to your account

Register Lost your password?