Description

Alitalia was built on the remains of several pre-World War Two Italian airlines. With financial help from British European Airways, for a time it would go on to become a well-respected European airline. However, the successful expansion plans of competitors such as Lufthansa and Air France, coupled with war in the Persian Gulf in 1991, the entrance of low-cost carriers as well as political meddling all took their toll, and, in 2008, Alitalia declared bankruptcy for the first time.

In October of that year, Compagnia Aerea Italiana (CAI) took over to form CAI-Alitalia. However, by June 2012, the ‘new’ Alitalia was in trouble again, though was saved by Etihad.

But the Arab carrier faced tough opposition from managers, trade unions and the Italian government, and Alitalia went bankrupt once more. The Italian government took over the ailing carrier and paid off its debts while looking for bidders for the airline. On 10 October 2020, the of bankrupt Alitalia was reorganised into Italia Trasporto Aereo (ITA).

ITA bought several assets from Alitalia, including the brand and the flight codes of Alitalia and Alitalia CityLiner. On 27 March 2023, however, the European Commission announced the previous loans, extended by the Italian government to Alitalia, were a direct violation of European rules, and the carrier has once again found itself in hot water. This highly illustrated book explores the tumultuous rise and fall of Italy’s flag carrier.