Climbout From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 1, posted (11 years 8 months 1 week 13 hours ago) and read 1187 times:
Doesn't he usually fly on his nations carrier, Alitalia?
By the way, I heard that he ask the US and the allies to hold off on attacking Afganistan (sp?) or whoever, until he returns from that region. It appears the US has agreed to honor his request.
Lufthansa404 From Germany, joined Aug 2001, 138 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (11 years 8 months 1 week 12 hours ago) and read 1145 times:
I dount he will fly Air Kazakstan. If the Vatican has safety concerns, he will usually fly back with Ailitalia.
This allready has taken place, when he was visiting Cuba back some years - he didnt fly Cubana.
Lan_Fanatic From Chile, joined Sep 2001, 1071 posts, RR: 7 Reply 6, posted (11 years 8 months 1 week 7 hours ago) and read 1074 times:
He really doesn't need an airplane for his own
Alitalia is excellent, and extremely safe...and I love watching Alitalia aircarafts in every visit he makes to every country.
And the greatest thing...he flew to Mexico in the same ALitalia's MD-11 that I flew in!!! the magnificent I-DUPE...called "Giuseppe Verdi"
Sonic99 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 7, posted (11 years 8 months 1 week 7 hours ago) and read 1070 times:
PHX,
I believe that that Alitalia provides one of its aircraft for exclusive use of the Vatican. The Pope usually travels on this aircraft and sometimes returns to Rome on a special receiving government courtesy flight.
Airplanenut From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 649 posts, RR: 1 Reply 8, posted (11 years 8 months 1 week 7 hours ago) and read 1066 times:
Don't forget that Alitalia has espresso machines on all of their planes (a special request to Boeing for them to be in the galleys). So if the Pope wants some espresso, he will deifinitely fly Alitalia
Lan_Fanatic From Chile, joined Sep 2001, 1071 posts, RR: 7 Reply 11, posted (11 years 8 months 1 week 6 hours ago) and read 1053 times:
Yyz717: As very few people know, or imagine, the Vatican is extremely wealthy. They own a bank that operates in Italy that is called "Banco Ambrosiano Veneto", where they keep all their fortune, so it is not Alitalia who affords the Pope's trips, but Vatican does.
Yyz717 From Canada, joined Sep 2001, 15990 posts, RR: 59 Reply 13, posted (11 years 8 months 1 week 6 hours ago) and read 1046 times:
Wow, I'm surprised! Why doesn't the Vatican divide its wealth amongst the world's roman catholic poor? I didn't know they had their own bank. Perhaps a Vatican CJ or BBJ would be better than leasing?
I'm still surprised that Alitalia can afford to pull an aircraft from service for 3-7 days for each one of these catholic papal jaunts! Maybe they figure the free publicity is worth the scheduling hassle? I believe Mexicana named a 757 after the catholic pope when he flew on it a few years ago.
I'd hate to be booked on a long distance Alitalia flight only to have it cancelled with no backup aircraft, while knowing that an MD-11 or 767 was off on some papal visit in kazakstan or wherever. That would piss me off.
Panam, TWA, Ansett, Eastern.......AC next? Might be good for Canada.
Johnnybgoode From Germany, joined Jan 2001, 2187 posts, RR: 7 Reply 15, posted (11 years 8 months 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 993 times:
i tend to agree with Jarek. on tv, i saw the Pope disembark an airplane which had Air ... titles on it. i could only see the "Air" part, and it was blue, so it seems that it´s been Air Kazakstan...
rgds
daniel
If only pure sweetness was offered, why's this bitter taste left in my mouth.
Glider From Belgium, joined Feb 2001, 297 posts, RR: 1 Reply 16, posted (11 years 8 months 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 982 times:
On the Pope's stop before Kazakhstan (I don't remember which country it was...); I saw on the news that he used there an Alitalia B763.
But I don't know the furter 'aircraft-evolution'...
I'll look at the news this evening
Glider
TWFirst From Vatican City, joined Apr 2000, 6346 posts, RR: 53 Reply 17, posted (11 years 8 months 4 days 12 hours ago) and read 978 times:
Years ago, the pope used to fly almost exclusively on TWA (even intra-Europe)... ah, those were the days.
You should also be aware that the Alitalia plane isn't just any Alitalia plane. Each plane is customized specifically for the pope and his entourage. One must remember that the pope isn't just the "Catholic pope" (YYZ717), but also head of state of an independent country (Vatican City). And yes, right or wrong, the Vatican can afford anything it wants.
Yyz717 From Canada, joined Sep 2001, 15990 posts, RR: 59 Reply 19, posted (11 years 8 months 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 954 times:
Ya, good question....why doesn't the Vatican buy its own aircraft? They can't be worried about image....it's very plain the catholic pope travels in luxury when visiting his teaming masses.
Actually if he only travels a couple of times/year, might not justify a dedicated aircraft. Still, is there an 'expectation' that Alitalia provide an MD-11 when he travels? I'd like to see the financial analysis supporting the pulling of an MD-11 from service for a pope trip.
Wouldn't he feel at home flying Virgin?? hehehe. Sorry, couldn't resist. No harm meant.
Panam, TWA, Ansett, Eastern.......AC next? Might be good for Canada.
DatamanA340 From South Korea, joined Dec 2000, 547 posts, RR: 0 Reply 20, posted (11 years 8 months 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 933 times:
But Italy is not his country Alitalia will be the most convinient for him.
Before ask why the pope doesn't have his own plane, you should ask why the pope doesn't have his own airport Maybe none of Rome citizen would criticize of that if he pays for that estate.
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