alitalia

Alitalia Sells Off Art

Filed under: Wings

Embattled Italian airline Alitalia has sold off some of the art that once hung inside its first class cabins and lounges. The Italian national airline filed for bankruptcy last year and this sale was part of the breakup of the assets. A group of Italian investors have continued on with the brand, relaunching it with a new terminal in Rome.

The auction included paintings by Futurist artists like Giacomo Balla and Enrico Prampolini and works by Italian artists. One piece that didn't sell was a Gino Severini piece "Zeus Gave Birth to the Sun" said to be valued at 500,000 euros. That piece may be sold privately. Overall the auction brought in 1.2 million euros.

Tags: alitalia, alitalia airlines, AlitaliaAirlines, art, gino serverini, GinoServerini

Alitalia To Put Art Collection Up For Sale

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wings, Art

Italian aircraft carrier Alitalia has a resource some other carriers don't in order to help raise funds. Alitalia is currently looking into selling its prized modern art collection to help to reduce debts, as it prepares for a relaunch next month under new ownership. The collection of over 200 pieces includes works by Salvador Dali, Giorgio De Chirico and Giacomo Balla, as well as sculptures by Giacomo Manzu and Mario Ceroli. The airline began its collection in the 1950s and the pieces are now at Alitalia offices in Rome, Milan, Turin and New York, or in storage. Christie's is reportedly making a valuation of 193 of its works of art and is said to be choosing 50 works of the greatest value and interest to be auctioned off. The news comes just after German airline Lufthansa launched "Lufthansa Italia", a new airline based at Milan Malpensa, to serve main European cities, including London.

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Tags: airline, alitalia, art, dali, jets