Alitalia most recently operated an Airbus-dominated fleet, with an Airbus narrowbody fleet and a mixed Airbus and Boeing widebody fleet. The fleet has been much more diverse in the past, though, with many Douglas, Vickers, and Caravelle aircraft joining a wide range of Boeing and Airbus aircraft. Let’s take a look back at the former airline’s fleet.
Early aircraft
Alitalia started service in 1947 as Aerolinee Italiane Internazionali (Italian International Airlines), with its first aircraft, an Italian-built Fiat G-12 aircraft. In its first years, it also operated the Savoia-Marchetti SM 95, an Italian four-engine aircraft. With this aircraft, the airline began expanding its European routes. It also operated the converted military Avro Lancastrian on some longer routes.
The Douglas DC-4 entered service in 1950, with four aircraft initially and a further four leased in the 1960s. It also operated 12 DC-3 aircraft from later in the decade. The DC-6 joined in 1953 and the DC-7 in 1957. This started a long history with Douglas that would last unit the MD-11 was retired in 2009. The fleet history here is based on data from AeroTransport Data Bank (ATDB.aero).
Other manufacturers in the 1950s included Convair – with six Convair CV-340s introduced between 1953 and 1957. And the Vickers Viscount joined the fleet in 1957, with up to 18 aircraft in service until 1971.
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Entering the jet age in 1960
Alitalia had the Vicker Viscount as a turboprop from 1957, but its first turbojet came in April 1960 with the Douglas DC-8. It operated 32 DC-8s in total. Along with the McDonnell Douglas DC-9 that joined later in the 1960s, Douglas aircraft made up most of this early jet age fleet. It also introduced the Sud Aviation Caravelle the same year, going on to operate 21 aircraft up to 1977.
Alitalia and Boeing
Alitalia’s relationship with Boeing began with the 727, introduced in 1976. It operated 18 aircraft on regional routes, retiring the type in 1985. Alitalia did, in fact, operate the Boeing 707, but only for a short time between 1978 and 1979 when it leased one aircraft. It operated the 737-200 for cargo but not in passenger service.
With widebodies, it introduced the Boeing 747 in 1970. Alitalia, at this time, became the first European airline to operate an all-jet aircraft fleet (according to the airline). The 747 was a significant aircraft for Alitalia. It operated two 747-100s, 11 747-200s (plus 13 more for freight use), and five 747-400s (plus one freighter).
The 767 joined the fleet in 1995, with 22 767-300ERs in use in total. The last was retired in 2012. The 777 was introduced in 2002. 17 have seen service, with six 777-200ERs remaining today.
Introducing Airbus aircraft from 1988
Airbus dominates the Alitalia fleet today, but it only took its first Airbus aircraft in 1988. Airbus launched its first aircraft, the Airbus A300, with Air France in 1974. Alitalia was certainly not an early adopter, though, bringing in the aircraft only from 1988. It went on to operate 14 aircraft.
The A320 followed this in 1999 and has been a big success for Alitalia. It has operated three ceo variants – with 33 A319ceo, 81 A320ceo, and 37 A321ceo. The A330 was introduced to the widebody fleet in 2010.
The fleet at the end
After a diverse and complicated history, Alitalia had a relatively simple fleet at the point of its closure. Its narrowbody fleet was dominated by Airbus, with 19 A319ceo, 26 A320ceo and five A321ceo aircraft. The Embraer ERJ 170 and ERJ 190 (10 and five aircraft respectively) were wet-leased for its subsidiary Alitalia CityLiner.
In the widebody fleet, it operated the Airbus A330-300 and Boeing 777-200ER, and 777-300ER. The A330-300 joined the fleet in 2010, and there were 10 aircraft remaining when it closed. With Boeing, there were 11 777-200ER and one 777-300ER aircraft.
Alitalia has a diverse and interesting fleet history. We have covered the main aircraft here, but a few smaller operations may have been missed. Feel free to discuss any of these further in the comments.
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