Alitalia, Italy’s national airline has undergone a number of important changes in 2009 and is ready to move forward in 2010. Alitalia is now 100% privately owned by an Italian consortium of investors CAI, Compagnia Aerea Italiana. The privatization took place in January 2009 with integration of the “old” Alitalia and Air One. The new airline flies to 24 national and 49 international destinations in the world with more than 2500 weekly flights and these numbers are constantly increasing with the introduction of new routes. The fleet is also being renewed with the introduction of the new Airbus A320.

Alitalia flies directly from Heathrow Terminal 4 to Rome and Milan and through these hubs to the other Italian and international destinations of its extensive network. Alitalia also flies from London City Airport to Milan-Linate.

Alitalia recently moved from Heathrow Terminal 2 (currently closed for redevelopment) to Terminal 4. The new improved check-in area is equipped with dedicated Premium check-in desks for business class, Club Ulisse and SkyTeam Elite Plus passengers. Also, members of Club Ulisse and SkyTeam Elite Plus can now access the new Sky Team VIP lounge, a two-level facility occupying 1,600 sqm and accommodating more than 300 passengers. The VIP Lounge is equipped with day beds, children area, wellness centre with showers, massage chairs and oxygen bar. There is the option of sampling a unique food menu which reflects the national cuisine of the nine airlines in SkyTeam. The peculiarity of the lounge is a “living wall” composed of more than 60 plant species that acts as air purification system for the lounge.

Alitalia as also recently inaugurated the new “Giotto” (intercontinental flights and extra-Schengen) and “Borromini” (European flights) lounges at Rome Fiumicino Airport. The two lunges have dedicated check-in desks, showers and complimentary personal kits, bar service, self-service area with fresh food products, pc stations with printers, fax and photocopiers, newspapers and magazines.

Terminal 1 is the new terminal at Fiumicino Airport dedicated to Alitalia flights for national and international destinations (in Schengen area countries). Fiumicino’s T1 features new signs that are particularly eye-catching and is now hosting a vast communications campaign – with the slogan: Alitalia is working for You – about the many new features introduced by Alitalia since January 2009, when the airline was re-launched.

Regarding new flights, although at the moment there aren’t any new direct flights from the UK, Alitalia has opened an important new national route from Rome Fiumicino and Milan-Linate to Crotone in Calabria. This beautiful area of Calabria is now more easily reachable from the UK via Rome or Milan.