Alitalia: One of Italy's Most Affordable and Versatile Airlines
Alitalia is the flag carrier airline of Italy, with its main hub at Leonardo da Vinci-Fiuminco Airport in Rome and a secondary hub at Linate Airport in Milan. The airline was established in September 1946. On 5th May 1947, the airline's first flight was operated between Turin, Rome and Catania with a three-engine Fiat G-12. The same year, the airline undertook its first international flight with a Savoia Marchetti SM 95 aircraft departing from Rome to Oslo with just 38 passengers onboard. In 1950, the four-engine DC4 plane joined the fleet with flight attendants and a selection of in-flight food and drink. In 1960, the airline Alitalia and LAI merged to form the airline we have today. 1960 was a pivotal year for the airline as it became the first official carrier to transport 1 million passengers in one year for the first time in history. The airline set another record in 1970 by becoming the first European airline to fly with a fleet comprising of only jets. During the 2000s, the airline became part of the SkyTeam Alliance and underwent a period of modernisation, emerging as a restructured and streamlined organisation in 2009. From 2012 onwards, the airline has predominantly focussed on adding new connections, refitting and modernising aircraft and working on strategies to ensure long-term success. In 2016 the airline carried 22.6 million passengers and has been pivotal in Italy's huge increase in air passengers between 2016-2017.
Flying with Alitalia
Alitalia offers passengers a choice of four classes, catering to all travel requirements and budgets. These include Economy, Premium Economy, Business Class Medium Haul and Business Class Long Haul. Economy Class offers passengers convenience and comfort, with a number of in-flight benefits including a personal entertainment screen, games, music and WiFi. Premium Economy offers similar benefits to Economy with increased baggage allowance, dedicated check-in desks, priority boarding and more legroom. Business Class Medium Haul offers dedicated services for business travellers, including access to pre-flight lounges, dedicated check-in desks, onboard comfort features such as increased legroom and leather seats and just four seats per row ensuring each passenger has more space and comfort. Business Class long haul is the most exclusive option for travel, with access to airline and SkyTeam lounges, dedicated check-in desks and priority gates where possible, inclining leather massage seats, a special lighting system, widescreen entertainment screens with a huge library of games, music, TV and movies and a premium Lavazza coffee menu. The airline offers a frequent-flyer club, Millemiglia, allowing passengers to accumulate points for air travel and spend them on flight upgrades.
Practical Information
Check-in: The airline offers one of the most versatile check-in procedures of all airlines, with the option to check-in at a desk at the airport, via your mobile, online or via telephone. By opting for one of the advanced check-in options you can save time at the airport by obtaining your boarding pass and making in-flight arrangements prior to departure.
Luggage:
Hand baggage: Passengers are permitted 1 item of hand baggage weighing no more than 8 kg and measuring no more than 55 x 35 x 25 cm. Passengers are permitted one additional accessory such as a briefcase, handbag or laptop computer.
Each item of baggage can have a maximum size of 158cm (sum of height + width + depth) and a maximum weight of 23 or 32 kg depending on class.
For more baggage rules see here:
https://www.alitalia.com/en_gb/fly-alitalia/baggage/checked-baggage.html