Alitalia takes off as private airline firm
Güncelleme Tarihi:
AFP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Ocak 14, 2009 00:00
MİLAN - Italy's flagship carrier Alitalia took to the skies under private ownership yesterday, the day after sealing a partnership agreement with European giant Air France-KLM.
The streamlined carrier, which has also merged with domestic rival Air One, had a turbulent start as protests by employees and airport workers caused 11 flight cancellations and about 25 delays, Italian news agencies reported.
But the protests were much smaller than feared thanks to 11th-hour accords on working conditions reached Monday night between management and the unions.
Saved from bankruptcy
The national symbol, verging on bankruptcy, was taken over by a group of prominent Italian business leaders after a years-long quest by the Italian government to sell off its 49.9 percent stake. The reborn Alitalia run by the Italian Air Company, or CAI, retains the colors as well as the "Italianness" championed by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Air France boss Jean Cyril Spinetta said in Paris yesterday that the deal under which the Franco-Dutch airline acquired a 25 percent stake was struck "with strict respect" for this Italianness.
Nevertheless, Air France-KLM's stake, for which it paid 323 million euros ($432 million), is the largest, and the deal is seen as a victory for the Franco-Dutch airline. Together, the new Alitalia and Air France-KLM will fly nearly 100 million passengers a year.
But the protests were much smaller than feared thanks to 11th-hour accords on working conditions reached Monday night between management and the unions.
Saved from bankruptcy
The national symbol, verging on bankruptcy, was taken over by a group of prominent Italian business leaders after a years-long quest by the Italian government to sell off its 49.9 percent stake. The reborn Alitalia run by the Italian Air Company, or CAI, retains the colors as well as the "Italianness" championed by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Air France boss Jean Cyril Spinetta said in Paris yesterday that the deal under which the Franco-Dutch airline acquired a 25 percent stake was struck "with strict respect" for this Italianness.
Nevertheless, Air France-KLM's stake, for which it paid 323 million euros ($432 million), is the largest, and the deal is seen as a victory for the Franco-Dutch airline. Together, the new Alitalia and Air France-KLM will fly nearly 100 million passengers a year.