To be fair you can't blame the guys. If I worked for Sabena or Alitalia I'd be claiming as much cash as I possibly could, secure in the knowledge that my employer will never go bust because state subsidies will be found one way or another. Lets face it, if you were given a blank cheque made out to you would you not write it for the largest sum you thought you could get away with? Competition and company profitability have never been issues within these companies, so why should you exepct different behaviour now? Its just human nature.