IATA Code: AZ ICAO Code: AZA Known As: Alitalia Full Name: Alitalia Linee Aeree Italiane S.p.A. Country: Italy Hubs: Milan, MXP; Rome, FCO Callsign: Alitalia Web Site: www.alitalia.it History: Alitalia is the national carrier of Italy and was established on September 16, 1946 as Aerolinee Italiane Internazionali, with operations initiated on May 5, 1947. On October 31, 1957 Alitalia merged with Linee Aeree Italiane and was renamed of Alitalia Linee Aeree Italiane. In 1997 Alitalia established regional subsidiary Alitalia Express and in 2001 became a founding member of the SkyTeam Alliance. In April 2004 Alitalia acquired the assets of bankrupt regional airline Gandalf Airlines, specifically slots at Milan and Paris, CDG. By September 2004 the airline encountered serious financial difficulties and was divided into two entities: an airline and a ground services division.