Flying The Pope.

stlbham · Mon Jul 12, 1999 2:22 am

I was recently reading somewhere that TWA when flying the pope from st louis to Italy, spent a few thousand hours preparing the cabin of their 767. My question is do airlines bid to fly the pope to his destinations? And does the pope have an airline or a plane that he usually flies in Europe? I guess in TWA's case the public seeing the pope leave America on a TWA jet was enough for them to invest several thousand hours in labor converting a jet to fly the pope one time!

Thanks
Brian

twa747100 · Mon Jul 12, 1999 2:55 am

The pope said "traveling with angles" is what twa means and it was a 767-300 that took the pope from stl-fco. And I think twa always opps for the pope and he take it!

LanFan · Mon Jul 12, 1999 3:03 am

I think the Pope uses Alitalita a majority of the time. He used an Alitalia MD11 to travel to Cuba. I remember when he went to Chile he flew in Lanchile. I think he uses the country's flag carrier when available (In the US case, I dont know) if not he flies ALITALIA.

Jay

Guest · Mon Jul 12, 1999 3:47 am

Several years ago, when the Pope visited Denver, he flew American back to Rome. American's papal flight was also a 767-300. I'm not sure how he chooses his airline here, though.

Falcon · Mon Jul 12, 1999 4:58 am

Who's Pope?

David L · Mon Jul 12, 1999 4:58 am

He probably chooses his airline by starting a topic on this forum called "What's Your Favourite Airline" under the name AZ-320, or something.

IB6400 · Mon Jul 12, 1999 10:23 am

At least in Mexico´s case the airlines bid to fly the pope to his final destinations. The Pope has traveled four times to Mexico, the first one was in 1.979 Aeroméxico brought him from a direct flight from Rome in a DC-10 he flew between several Mexican cities in the same Aeroméxico DC-10. The second one in 1.990 an Alitalia 747 brought him to Mexico City from Rome. He left Mexico City in a DC-10 from Aeroméxico. The third one was in 1.993 when he was coming from a Central American tour and a Taesa 757 (named by the way "Juan Pablo II") brought him to Mérida and then he flew on the same airline and plane to the U.S. The last one the most recently was past January. An Alitalia MD-11 came with him. He left Mexico City in a brand new 757 from Mexicana bounding to St. Louis The new 757 was named again "S.S. Juan Pablo II" The Pope usually wants to fly the national airline where it is possible. In México´s case the airlines take the turns to flew the Pope. Choosing the pilot who is taking the Pope is another thing the airlines usually picks the most well trained pilot. To your other question... Yes the Pope does have an airline for his European destinations... Alitalia.

gardermoen · Mon Jul 12, 1999 10:05 pm

I thought The Pope always flies the flag carrier of the country he is departing. When The Pope visited Philippines, Australia, PNG and Sri Lanka in 1995, he flew Alitalia ROM-MNL, Philippine Airlines MNL-POM, Air Niugini POM-SYD, Qantas SYD-CMB, and Air Lanka CMB-ROM.

cedarjet · Mon Jul 12, 1999 10:13 pm

You know, I think he's a contributor to this forum, have a look at "What's your favourite airplane?", I think "AZ-320" is either JP II or a very deluded and quite insane old man. Lives in the Vatican, travels with a big entourage, very security conscious, and hates Alitalia. Good enough for me.

Guest · Tue Jul 13, 1999 1:08 am

Alitalia gave the pope his own MD-11 that Alitalia pilots fly. But sometimes he will use other flag carriers for travel if the MD-11 isnt available or other airlines bid for him for just the joy of flyin the pope.

A330 · Tue Jul 13, 1999 3:21 am

Gardemoen is right. The Pope arrives with Alitalia and leaves with the flag carrier of the country he visited.

stlbham · Tue Jul 13, 1999 6:00 am

I know in the past when the pope comes to America he has flown TWA and United (maybe more i dont know), but since there is no true national carrier in the US does he choose the largest airline out of the city he visits? For example, st louis and TWA, Denver and United.

Thanks

Brian

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