"It is just a plane," she whispered to a journalist capturing the moment. "But my work was never just a job. It was a love letter to Italy."
Why look back at Manuela Imperato’s work today? Her career offers a guide to the lost art of hospitality.
But beyond the elegant uniforms, the job was demanding. Alitalia hostesses, like Manuela, were highly trained professionals. Their duties included rigorous safety checks, managing in-flight service for hundreds of passengers, providing first aid, resolving conflicts, and ensuring compliance with a host of national and international aviation regulations. They were the face of the airline, the first and last person a passenger would see, tasked with delivering a seamless and safe journey. However, this career was also marked by constant turbulence, even before the final crash. As early as 2008, an anonymous Alitalia hostess with "twenty years of seniority" was quoted in a blog, expressing a deep sense of uncertainty: "c'è poco da dire, mi domando soltanto se i..." ("there is little to say, I just wonder if they..."), a sentiment that would echo for years to come.
Details on the during the Alitalia-ITA transition. manuela imperato hostess alitalia work
For the workforce, including hostesses and pilots, this meant navigating periods of intense uncertainty, strikes, contract renegotiations, and structural transitions. Dedicated crew members frequently found themselves advocating for their labor rights, demanding fair scheduling, and fighting to maintain the high standards of safety and service that defined the airline's reputation.
Manuela was famous for her "pre-flight scan." Before the first passenger stepped aboard, she would walk the aisle, adjusting air vents to just the right angle and ensuring the newspapers (Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica, Wall Street Journal) were perfectly aligned. She believed that turbulence was mental, not physical. "If the hostess smiles during the bump," she used to joke, "the passengers will sleep like babies. If she frowns, you have a panic attack at 35,000 feet."
Skies of Elegance: The Legacy of Alitalia Hostesses and the Career of Manuela Imperato "It is just a plane," she whispered to
If you meant a review written by her (e.g., a LinkedIn recommendation or a self-review), or if you need a negative/constructive version, let me know and I can tailor it further.
Manuela Imperato currently lives in Fiumicino, near the airport. She does not fly anymore. She runs a small bed-and-breakfast called La Scaletta , named after the air stairs of a DC-10. The walls of her living room are covered with photos of sunsets over the Atlantic, handwritten thank-you notes from ambassadors, and a framed letter from the Pope’s secretary thanking her for service on a Vatican flight.
Beyond serving espresso and fine Italian wine, hostesses underwent intense safety, survival, and medical training at Alitalia’s state-of-the-art training centers. Her career offers a guide to the lost art of hospitality
Manuela's journey at Alitalia began several years ago, when she underwent rigorous training to prepare her for the demands of being a flight attendant. Her dedication and hard work paid off, and she quickly became an integral part of the Alitalia team. Over the years, Manuela has worked on numerous flights, traveling to destinations across the globe and interacting with passengers from diverse backgrounds.
Beyond serving meals, her role was centered on ensuring the safety and comfort of every passenger on board.