Alitalia Flights:
An overview of Alitalia
The end of the Second World War witnessed passenger airlines springing up all across the globe and Italy was not far behind. In September of 1946, Italy’s first commercial airline was established. It was known as Aerolinee Italiane Internazionali. This name commonly came to be known as Alitalia. Alitalia is a combination of two Italian words namely Ali and Italia, meaning Wings and Italy respectively.
Alitalia started operation on the 5th of May 1947, and a Fiat G-12 Alcione was the aircraft that was used on its inaugural flight. In this year Alitalia carried about 10,000 passengers. By the end of the year 1949, the airline added four aircrafts that they had purchased from the Pan American fleet: Douglas DC-4s. The following year, 1950, saw the first Alitalia stewardesses assuming duty on board of these aircrafts. In October 1957, Alitalia merged with another airline Linee Aeree Italiane, forming Alitalia Linee Aeree Italiane.
Alitalia was soon recognised as Italy’s national airline and in 1960 the airline was made the official carrier for the Olympic Games in Rome. During this year the company acquired the first jets of its fleet: the Caravelle and the DC-8. They also reached a very important milestone during that year by transporting one million passengers. By the year 1969, Alitalia was the first airline in Europe to own only jets in their fleet. Alitalia continued to grow in spite of all the ups and downs that the airline had to face over the ensuing years.
Today Alitalia has 179 aircrafts to its name and is considered to be one of the most efficient airlines that Europe has on offer. The Alitalia airline fleet is also one of the youngest and most modern.
The Alitalia Group went through a process of reorganisation in May 2005 and launched their new website. In addition to online bookings, they also provide services like tele check in, self check in and web check in.
Alitalia is serious about social responsibility. Hence, their value system includes regard for the environment, respect for cultural differences and support for those in need.
Book a Flight on Alitalia:
To Book a flight type in where you are leaving from, where you want to go to. Edit the date range and number of passengers and just click on the submit tab.
Globe Trotting with Alitalia :
Alitalia Alliance Alitalia is a member of an international airline alliance called the SkyTeam. The airlines that are part of the SkyTeam alliance are Aeroflot, Aeromexico, Continental, Delta, CSA Czech Airlines, Korean Air, KLM, Air France, Northwest and China Southern Airlines.
Although Alitalia does not directly operate any flights to and from South Africa, it is in a position to offer flights to Italy via some of its alliance partners: Air France, Delta and KLM.
Delta Airlines operate out of Johannesburg and offer direct flights to Atlanta, Dakar and Paris. You can take a connecting flight into Italy from any one of these cities.
Air France operates out of Durban, Cape Town, East London, Johannesburg, George and Port Elizabeth. In addition to being the only alliance partner to offer direct flights to Rome and Venice, Air France also flies to Paris, Barcelona, Brussels, Frankfurt, Geneva, London, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco
KLM operates out of Johannesburg, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town. Direct flights are offered by KLM to Toronto, Vancouver, Amsterdam, Madrid, Rome, Los Angeles, London, Paris, New York, Chicago, Geneva, Berlin and Glasgow. From most of these cities you can directly connect into Italy.