Alitalia continues to operate … for now.

Back to Forum
Viewing 15 posts - 61 through 75 (of 201 total)

  • LuganoPirate
    Participant

    That’s another 600 million of taxpayers money about to be thrown away. Most Italians would rather see AZ closed down, it’s only the Government’s feeling of national pride that keeps it going.

    Most Italian business people in the North fly Swiss, Lufthansa or BA rather than go through Rome, or the American carriers direct to the US. AZ had lost all that business and while MXP leaves a lot to be desired, as a frequent user I don’t find it too bad, and actually better than Frankfurt from a users point of view. It’s very rare I wait more than 5 minutes for my bags when arriving and though sometimes chaotic arriving and departing to home by private taxi is quite simple without the need for long walks to car parks etc.

    QR won’t buy AZ. Why should they? They already have a lot of the African and Far East business. And again, people would rather the reliability of a change in Doha (Dubai etc) than Rome. Another problem is regulatory, in that they cannot own more than 49% of an EU airline.


    AMcWhirter
    Participant

    Reuters in Germany reported yesterday that Air France / KLM were not interested in taking over Alitalia.

    http://de.reuters.com/article/italien-alitalia-air-france-idDEKCN18C22B


    AMcWhirter
    Participant

    I’ve now found an English version of the above.

    http://www.reuters.com/article/alitalia-restructuring-airfrance-idUSL8N1II5N0


    Flightlevel
    Participant

    AZ need a company to offer new contracts to all associate businesses and employees on terms that can make a profit.
    Cut out non-profitable routes, and an Italian way to good service, taking advantage of their one or two hubs and the many alliance and code shares they operate. Simples!


    alainboy56
    Participant

    @Flihtlevel — Its not as simple as this, they have to get rid of their Roman influence. All their staff or the vast majority are Roman i.e. next to the seat of the Govt and they manipulate them as they wish.
    They need a good clean out and start again with employees from all the other provinces. Most young girls whom aspire to be cabin crew join FR or EZY as they know they are not part of the ‘Roman mafia’
    When you fly by BA, you hear accents from both cabin and cockpit crew from all over UK but on AZ only Roman accents.
    This is their biggest problem.


    AMcWhirter
    Participant

    “Alitalia files for bankruptcy in the US” over unpaid bills which might prevent it from using New York’s JFK. via wsj.com

    https://www.wsj.com/articles/italys-alitalia-airline-files-for-bankruptcy-in-the-u-s-1497365702

    Another report from flightglobal.com

    https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/alitalia-files-for-us-bankruptcy-protection-438193/


    AMcWhirter
    Participant

    I would have thought EZY would be the last airline to have any interest in Alitalia.

    http://atwonline.com/airlines/easyjet-confirms-interest-alitalia


    openfly
    Participant

    Alex….EasyJet wouldn’t be interested in AZ for their commercial side, but it gives them an instant access to hundreds of pilots and short-haul Airbuses….a European airline to cover them after Brexit. Not such a daft thought. After all BA wanted BCal and BMi for an instant supply of pilots with a value of £100,000 each and fleets of aircraft instantaneously.


    AMcWhirter
    Participant

    openfly – Yes it makes sense in that case. Also there are those AZ slots at Milan and Rome. And those at Milan Linate would be lucrative.


    openfly
    Participant

    Alex….it could be a perfect bargain package for EasyJet. Also, the crews would have to sign new employment contracts which could help destroy the AZ work ethic…at last.


    alainboy56
    Participant

    @openfly — AZ have a work ethic?


    openfly
    Participant

    ?


    LuganoPirate
    Participant

    If EZY buy the assets from a bankruptcy and pilots and crew have to re-apppy for jobs then it might work for them. If they take over the airline Italian Labour law and the unions are so strict and strong they will struggle to reduce the pay and benefits culture that has bought AZ to it’s knees.

    Had the crews been more flexible then maybe Etihad would have made a success of it but their intransigence will likely see them out of jobs or in work at greatly reduced salaries.


    openfly
    Participant

    @LP The crux of the failure of AZ will be the release of all the short-haul Airbuses into a market hungry for aircraft. If EZY were able to secure the maximum number of hulls, then it would be natural that the ex-AZ pilots would follow the aircraft…and be grateful for employment, on new terms and contracts, in a successful EasyJet world. Mind you, it would only be a matter of days before these new Italian Easyjet pilots would threaten a strike because the uniform isn’t as smart as their old AZ one…??

Viewing 15 posts - 61 through 75 (of 201 total)
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Business Traveller March 2024 edition
Business Traveller March 2024 edition
Be up-to-date
Magazine Subscription
To see our latest subscription offers for Business Traveller editions worldwide, click on the Subscribe & Save link below
Polls