Five Years Later: What happened to the Alitalia fleet

ROME — Rome–Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (FCO). You are on board, ready for takeoff. As the aircraft begins to taxi past the eastern section of the airport, you notice a large number of stationary planes.

"Those are Alitalia’s planes!" you think. But what are they doing there? And why have their logos and red accents been removed?

The fleet

Let us begin by looking at the Alitalia fleet from the early 2000s onward. The airline operated both Airbus and Boeing aircraft for domestic and intercontinental flights, including the Airbus A319, A320, A321, and A330, as well as the Boeing 777. Additionally, Embraer ERJ-145, 170, 190, and 195 models were utilized for Alitalia CityLiner.

On short-haul routes, the carrier deployed Embraer and Airbus jets to serve Linate and Fiumicino, the fleet's primary hubs. These hubs connected Italy from north to south, including the islands of Sardinia and Sicily. The aircraft proudly bore the names of Italian cities, significant landmarks, and great historical figures, such as "Giotto" or "Parco dello Stelvio."

Regarding the long-haul fleet, between 2000 and 2004, Alitalia operated Boeing B777-200ER and Airbus A330-200 aircraft. However, the true "star" of the fleet was the Boeing B777-300ER, registered as "EI-WLA." Designed to replace the B747 with a seating capacity of 442, this aircraft was delivered to Alitalia on April 13, 2017. It was owned by AerCap—an Irish leasing company that also owned Alitalia’s other B777s.

The B777-300ER had previously flown for Air Austral; upon its arrival in Rome, it was immediately dispatched to the International Aerospace Coatings (IAC) hangars for its paint job in the Alitalia livery.

The tricolor present

But let us return to the aircraft parked at FCO. Why are they there? What models are they, and what does the future hold for them?

If you look at an online map and zoom in on the technical area of Fiumicino Airport, you can see a long row of stationary aircraft bearing the Alitalia name. As visible, the lineup includes MD-80s, A321s, A332s, and B772s. 

Their past is well-known: the tricolor livery, the brand, and the elegance of the crews who carried Italian culture to high altitudes and around the world. Today, however, some of these grounded planes have been moved to the Atitech hangars (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) to have their reusable components removed before they are ultimately scrapped.

If we look closely, we can identify the registrations I-DISU, EI-ISO, EI-ISA, EI-ISB, EI-ISD, and EI-ISE. These are all Boeing 777-200s, currently stationary and awaiting demolition by their owners—a process that takes place directly on the apron where they are parked.

Alongside them are the A321s: EI-IXV, EI-RNA, EI-IXH, and EI-IXJ. There are also several Embraer ERJ-170 and 190 models, as others have already been returned to their foreign leasing owners.

Finally, there are the Airbus A330-200s, not all of which were destined for such a short-lived fate. But who else remains among the group?

The Italian A340

A more expert eye will notice that it is not just B777s and A330s; there is also an Airbus A340. But who does it belong to? And what is it doing there?

The most famous name, given the numerous events surrounding it, is "AIR FORCE RENZI"—an Airbus A340-500 intended for state travel for the President and the Prime Minister.

The aircraft was commissioned by Matteo Renzi, Prime Minister from 2014 to 2016, for state flights beyond Italy or Europe, with the goal of supporting Italian exports. However, Renzi himself never flew on it; only a few ministers used it during its brief period of service.

The aircraft remained in operation until 2017, but due to high operating and ground handling costs, it was eventually withdrawn from service. Looking back at its history, the aircraft was originally built for Etihad Airways in a retro livery and was used for scheduled commercial flights until 2015. When Renzi sought a larger state aircraft, it was leased to Alitalia, which in turn leased it to the Italian government.

Official state flights for the Italian government are operated by the Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare). The Air Force has a dedicated wing for these transport services: the 31st Wing (31° Stormo), based at Ciampino, Rome’s second airport. This, however, created a further complication: Ciampino lacks a parking stand suitable for an aircraft of this size.

Since Ciampino lacked the necessary space, the Air Force stationed the A340 at Fiumicino. There, for years—following its few missions, which included pilot training and state flights—it remained stored inside the Alitalia hangar, near where it can still be seen today.

Due to various issues regarding unpaid airport service fees to Alitalia, the aircraft was moved to its current position, where it sits with an uncertain future.

After years of silence, the aircraft was purchased in 2023 for the symbolic sum of one euro by Alitalia’s extraordinary commissioners, bringing an end to an affair notorious for its high costs to the State.

Today, in 2026, the aircraft awaits its demolition; like the other Alitalia planes, it will be stripped of its reusable parts to support other aircraft.

The hidden tricolor

Although Alitalia officially ceased operations in October 2021, its livery continued to soar—and not only on domestic routes.

In the immediate aftermath of its inaugural flight, ITA Airways did not have a fully branded fleet; however, having purchased Alitalia's brand and assets, it retained the rights to operate the former carrier’s aircraft.

ITA Airways’ fleet strategy shifted toward sustainability and operational efficiency, focusing exclusively on Airbus with a future centered on the A220, A320neo, A330-900, and the fleet’s "crown jewel," the Airbus A350-900.

In 2021, the only Alitalia Airbus models still operational were the A319 and A320 for short-haul routes, while the A330-200 remained in service for long-haul flights.

Another surprise from the new all-Italian carrier was its new livery. In the early stages, this sparked significant controversy regarding the cost of repainting the entire fleet and the debate over its sustainability.

One of the first aircraft in the ITA Airways fleet to be repainted was the Airbus A330-200, registration EI-EJP, named "Tazio Nuvolari" after the Italian racing driver. Indeed, ITA Airways adopted the concept of naming its aircraft after great Italian athletes and stars, such as Valentino Rossi, Francesco Totti, and many others.

The "Azzurro" blue livery is a direct tribute to the color of our national sports jerseys, reflecting not only the sky but the very spirit of Italy.

Over time, from 2022 to the present day, the carrier has taken delivery of new aircraft—including the A320neo, A330-900, and A350-900—bringing the total fleet to approximately one hundred aircraft, which also includes the A319 and A320 families.

The future objective is to transform the company into a "green" airline, reducing fuel consumption through the use of modern, high-efficiency engines.

An all-blue future

Looking at the present, ITA Airways’ sustainable fleet is composed as follows:

• Airbus A220-100/300: 30 aircraft
• Airbus A320/321neo: 26 aircraft
• Airbus A330-900: 14 aircraft
• Airbus A350-900: 6 aircraft

However, the transition is not yet complete. For short-haul operations, the company is awaiting the delivery of further new aircraft; this will allow it to return the former Alitalia fleet to lessors and replace them with new A320neos.

As for intercontinental routes, the Airbus A330-200s are now officially out of service. Currently, one in particular—registration EI-EJG—has been completely stripped of all salvageable components, including the cockpit.

The future of the A330s was originally destined for Azul, the Brazilian airline; so why are these aircraft in such a state?

In the final period, there were five Airbus A330-200s in the fleet. Since they were under lease, they were supposed to be returned and subsequently delivered to the new lessee, Azul.

However, for reasons that remain unclear, the group was reduced to just two aircraft—EI-EJM and EI-EJH. These are currently in Amman (AMM), Jordan, awaiting the start of their new operational life with the other carrier.

As these fleet transitions unfold, ITA Airways is expecting further arrivals. Between March and September 2026, they are set to receive more A220s, two A330-900s, two A321neos, and finally, additional Airbus A350-900s. One can only wonder if a special livery dedicated to airline alliances will also make an appearance.

Inspired by Alitalia

Even though Alitalia’s tricolor seems destined to fade, there may still be hope for its name. The old airline’s logos have reappeared on flight tickets, and three specific aircraft—the Airbus A220-100, A321neo, and A350—are being marketed under the slogan "Inspired by Alitalia." What will this new branding bring to the company?

The leadership of ITA Airways and Lufthansa—since ITA is now part of the Lufthansa Group—have declared their intention to utilize the Alitalia brand in the future, though they have yet to specify how.

Thus, while Alitalia remains a beautiful memory today, will we ever have the chance to see it in our skies again? We truly hope so.