Alitalia Airlines is headquartered in Rome, Italy and is the'th largest airline in the world. Its main hub is at Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport in Rome. Alitalia Airlines serves 24 domestic and 66 international destinations. Alitalia?s top 12 flights originate from Rome. It is a member of the Sky Team Alliance, one of the top airline alliance programs in the world, and offers a frequent flyer program called MileMiglia. Members earn miles by flying on Alitalia or its partner airlines, including the airlines that form the Sky Team Alliance.
Alitalia Airlines was founded in'46. The airline?s inaugural flight was from Turin to Catania and Rome. The first international flight left a year later from Milan to South America. Its current fleet consists of primarily Airbus and Boeing aircraft. The airline has made some strategic changes recently in hopes of expanding its presence in the international market.
Airlines seldom make money, and Alitalia is no exception to the rule. The carrier had only one profitable year,'98. When the Italian government stopped subsidies in 2006, flights were grounded, and the airline found it increasingly difficult to deal with labor issues. Alitalia declared bankruptcy in 2008, and then sold a 25 per cent stake to Air France-KLM.
The newly privatized Alitalia then merged with Air One under a corporate consortium called Compagnia Aerea Italiana (CAI), which finalized its acquisition of the two airlines in late 2008. The new Air One operates frequent flights to 36 destinations in Europe and also to North America, flying from Rome, Milan, and Turin.
Prime Minister Berlusconi had called for the formation of the consortium, which derives its investment capital from wealthy Italian entrepreneurs and banks. The consortium assumed Alitalia's debts, which led to public questions as to how much the Alitalia sale was subsidized by taxpayers. The new company was formed with a capital of 1 billion euro, and promised a five-year plan to bring the new airline to profitability by 2010. Over 12,000 workers of the "old" Alitalia kept their jobs in the merger, but another 3,250 jobs were eliminated.
Alitalia officials anticipate that the 25 per cent minority stake held by Air France-KLM will help the new company to achieve its goals of profitability and expanded presence in the international market. The new partnership is a good deal for the flying public, as the chances to earn and spend frequent flier miles through MileMiglia are greatly expanded.
The Pope flies on a chartered Alitalia Airlines jet nicknamed ?Shepherd One.? The changes in Alitalia?s ownership are not expected to impact that arrangement.
Tom Martens is the content syndication coordinator for South Arica?s leading Flight comparison & Booking portal, which includes Alitalia Airlines amongst others.
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