That is nearly right captcat, only 3 people stayed (waiting for another job).
I didn't work for them, but a very close friend of mine did, and I would like to tell some stories (just a few) therefore I have to warn you to get your sickness bags ready
The interview was nice and relaxed according to my friend. It was held by Azzurra Cabin Crew deputy manager (who "spoke" a very broken English) and another very nice lady (who later on became Man based Cabin Crew Manager).
The course was held in Italy.
At the time of the certification (Italian Cabin Crew licence) in Rome, the session was stopped by the Union (Azzurra Air Cabin Crew Union) as they didn't want "foreigns" to get an italian certification!
Anyway, it was sorted eventually. Back to MAN it was a bit painful most of the time, as Italian crew were agaisnt non-italian crew (British, French, Spanish). Maybe because their (Italian crew) English was so poor it was hard (nearly impossible) to communicate
The place was a real mess, when daystopping/nightstopping hotels were lower than any low bed and breakfast, when expecting a pick up it never ever got there on time, catering was a real mess most of the time, as AZZURRA never sent equipment to ALPHA(or very very little) so sometimes (if it was their lucky day) they had other airlines trolleys, pots, boxes, etc, etc. I remember one occasion when they had NO TROLLEYS and the whole thing went on board (and stayed) in carton boxes!!!
Anyway, the summer came and suddenly found out Maersk Air was working with them in a "wet-lease". Maersk arrived, so did the CC base manager, and things started to work in a more efficient and normal way, even if so, ZS crew were left in MAN in "exile", no crew room, they had to call crewing (back in Milan) on their own expenses, the base Manager had (after numerous requests) a company phone, and yes, she was given a company laptop which ... didn't work!. Also manual changes and vital pieces of info never got to MAN, as well as pillows and blankets (according to ZS was to expensive to ship) so they went on with Maersk Air charity. Same for safety cards, wrong ones on board for a while. Also as best of my knowledge their base manager bought equipment (ice tongues, stationery, etc, etc) on her own expences, as ZS didn't want anything to know/do with what had to do with MAN (more than living in exile I would say they were isolated)
Some of the crew in MAN were Italians, got a contract to go to MAN and were promised after end of contract they were going to go back to Italy, not to make the story long, they were told by ZS to p*ss off at the end of the summer, either they stayed in UK or nothing (nice, isn'it???)
Catering got better (as for Maersk Air charity trolleys and equipment) Thanks to catering guys as well as ZS did not have agreements even for the "hot boxes" to put hot meals (foils) on top of trolleys!
Based Manager introduced touch screen computers for sales, but when she left for pastures new, ZS decided not to use them anymore
Pay was according to flight hours. During the winter anyway it was very low, as they operated, maybe, one flight per week.
Remember they are an Italian company, therefore salary was in Euros.
Commissions on sales were never right, crew never had the money they were expecting to get
Work load was high, 3 crew on a B737-700 with 148 pax, hot meal even in the SZG and all sales (1 hour and 10 flight time)
Between the crew the atmosphere was wonderful, but ZS in Milan never gave a thing for their crew there
and they also had set the best example of what I would say was the perfect example of a "mickey mouse operations"
After Maersk left and their base manager had enough of Azzurra and left as well ....
A pick up from MAN to BHX never arrived, and ZS cabin crew were asked to take the train to BHX (and they did)
Another pick up from MAN to PIK never arrived, crew were asked to pay a taxi to PIK
Maybe finding an UK based airline will be the best option for anyone trying to get involved with those pirates of the air.
This said I heard Air Malta is getting somehow involved with them (another lease?) althought contracts and pay will still be coming from ZS.
Wonder who could possibly do the training, as the only one who could speak an understandable English left
