Alitalia retires only B777-300(ER)

Alitalia (AZ, Rome Fiumicino) has retired its only B777-300(ER) as it prepares for its formal closure and replacement by ITA – Italia Trasporto Aereo (AZ, Milan Linate) next month.

EI-WLA (msn 35783) had been used exclusively for cargo-only charters (without cabin modification) since May 2020, Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows. The 12.4-year-old aircraft, leased from AerCap, operated its last revenue flight from New York JFK to Milan Malpensa on June 30, 2021, and was subsequently kept in storage at Rome Fiumicino. On September 15, it was ferried to Shannon for return to its owner.

The Italian flag carrier continues to operate ten B777-200(ER)s, although only half of them are currently active, the ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows. Its widebody fleet also comprises ten A330-200s. Although ITA, a new entity that will acquire, rather than automatically assume, Alitalia’s assets, has yet to announce its fleet plan (which it plans to do by the end of September), it has already communicated that its widebody fleet will initially be substantially smaller. According to media reports from early September, the new airline will continue leases of seven A330-200s currently operated by Alitalia but will not operate any B777s.