Alitalia
Alitalia flew about 21 Boeing 747s from 1970 to 2003, concentrating on the -200 — including Combis and freighters — on its North American and intercontinental routes from Rome and Milan.
Alitalia took its first 747 in May 1970, making it one of the first airlines in Europe to operate the type. Over the next three decades it flew around 21 of them, almost all of one variant.
The 747-200 was the fleet
After just two 747-100s — the first named Neil Armstrong — Alitalia standardised on the 747-200. It operated fourteen passenger -200s, including some Combis, and five aircraft converted to freighters. The mix reflected Alitalia’s network: dense North American services from Rome and Milan, plus cargo routes that kept the airframes working after the passenger cabins were retired.
The airline never flew a 747-300. It did order about ten 747-400s in 2000, but the order was cancelled, and the delivery slots went to Virgin Atlantic. Alitalia’s only -400 flying was a wet-leased freighter.
Identity in the paint
Alitalia’s 747s carried the airline’s green, white and red livery, and one, I-DEMF, was painted in the famous Baci Perugina chocolate advertisement scheme. On 30 June 1982 a 747 was hijacked with 340 passengers aboard; the aircraft was recovered and no 747 hull was lost, then or later.
The end
Passenger 747s left the fleet in February 2003, with the freighters continuing to 2006. One ex-Alitalia airframe was still flying in cargo service with a Moldovan operator almost two decades after leaving Italy.
Related
Sources
Facts on this page are checked against the primary and institutional references below.
- What happened to Alitalia's Boeing 747s? — Simple Flying
- What happened to Alitalia's Boeing 747 fleet? — Airport Spotting
- Alitalia fleet — Wikipedia
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