Aliatalia 40 flights cancelled, meeting at 1530L
 

Minister meeting the unions at 1530L, lots of strikes going aroung in the aviation sector in Italy.

Something will happen today.

Save face , or save the Airline , I wonder what`s gonna happen.

Sadly if its one thing that aviation history has thought us its that saving face is often the most chosen path! LOL!

Got to feel sorry for some of the staff and the travelling public but at the end of the day - basketcase

Thought state subsidised airlines were against EU laws... How do they get away with it?

I doubt AZ can continue the way it is now. Also because the current Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has a lot at stake in this, as he promised to "save Alitalia and keep it Italian"during the last electoral campaign.
In order to do this, he dragged into the game 16 Italian enterpreneurs (promising all sorts of favours), and at this moment he is the only one who stands to lose a lot from Alitalia going bust.

Not to worry. The Italian maffia that is their government will keep this airline airborn.:*

But surely nobody is booking with them at the moment given the threats last Friday from the Administrator that they might not have enough money to pay for fuel. They must have a severe cash flow problem now??

Spelling is "alitalia" for as long such a thing exists ...

Anyway, bookings are down only 26% (official figure), not much more as one could expect.

unconfortable, sorry but you're wrong mate. Mr Berlusconi has already pointed out (and is likely to be believed, considering his good popularity right now) that he did what promised and if the company goes belly up, only unions are to blame. He (and the unions) can survive such an event, the really affected ones will be workers, passengers, and the economy .

Things will drag until tomorrow when both the offer will be retired and money will be really over, so check back then.

And this thread will be soon moved to AA&R where it belongs.

Rad alt,
Spell it properly at least.. Mafia not maffia:D

"What's this word 'closure'?" "This word, it's an ugly word. A word I don't like to hear..."

"Si, Godfather"

"So you tell these punks, the family's gonna make 'em an offer. Capisce?"

"Si, Godfather"

"If they know what's good for them, multo bene. If not....."

"Capisco!"
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...rnet/zxzxz.jpg

If not..
you know... we have friends.. we know people..
Statemi a buono tutti quanti

$1.3bn State Aid 1996-2000
E1.4bn State Aid Jan02 + tax reductions
E400m Oct04 Rescue Aid
E300m Apr08 Rescue Aid

EU law obviously does not apply in Italy

The Italian thread is a fascinating read if you can undertstand the lingo.

Arguments tend to be along the lines of:

'We are the State airline. We deserve to be paid more than you lowco drivers. Up there with BA, LH we are. Holidays? Union negotiated, therefore untouchable'. etc etc

Counter argumets along the lines of:

'Get a life. Half the jobs in AZ are given to the springoffs of well connected persons. Competitive World. Put yourself on the same level as BA, LH? You gotta be kidding etc etc'

Add to that a lot of pointing fingers, crew at management, management at crew and you get the general - rather typical - Italian picture.

Sad really

No spicejetter, IFF the new Alitalia takes off, will NOT be anything like before.

Cuts, reduction and productivity increase are drastic. Both for pilots and not.

The merge with Air One is also a major change.

The new owners are hard businessmen lead by a bank, know not to be generous people, and if their conditions are not met, they will withdraw the offer. The only reason they're there in first place, is because pressure received from Berlusconi.

Whatever happens, the Alitalia that you know and in many cases disliked, is no more. For real this time.

EDIT: sorry, I don't know from where I picked the "26% reduction in booking". number I don't think anything has been released actually, as it seems a question anyone is scared to ask.

All true!!! :D