Alitalia Flight Attendants to Strike on July 18th !

leopoldm · Post by **leopoldm** » 28 Jun 2005, 21:32

Take care if u plan to travel to or from Italy with Alitalia next month ...

According to this article, Alitalia flight attendants will be on strike on July 18th.

Greetz,

Leopold

regi · Post by **regi** » 29 Jun 2005, 17:01

Well, that is a great way to show what Alitalia is worth. Utterly crap.
My dear Luchtzak friends, you may remember my previous posts how much I dislike Alitalia since I ended up in a hospital because of food poisoning with a drain in my arm . And suitcases were broken beyond repair. And the planes were dirty and old.
Cut the life line, stop Alitalia today. Don't even let them the chance to go on strike in July. It is all not worth it.
Italians will get over with, we Belgians did after the Sabena collapse.
And Sabena was not even that bad, compared with Alitalia.

regi · Post by **regi** » 29 Jun 2005, 17:03

So Alitalia personnel wants to strike? Fine, kick that lazy and lousy bunch of morrons out and import a shipload of work willing Emirates style personnel.
I flew both and I have the right to make the comparison.
It is a new world. Emirates style.

regi · Post by **regi** » 29 Jun 2005, 17:06

If that personnel has so little respect for the simple italians who go on a holiday in July and end up somewhere for some days in departure lounges with crying babies and disabled parents, well, I cannot have a single bit of respect for them. Do it the hard way, kick them out and let them go to court and let it dragg on for at least 10 years.
Stop complaining, start working.
Alitalia, what a joke.
An utter disgrace for modern aviation

B744skipper · Post by **B744skipper** » 29 Jun 2005, 17:22

regi wrote:So Alitalia personnel wants to strike? Fine, kick that lazy and lousy bunch of morrons out and import a shipload of work willing Emirates style personnel.

I totally agree with you, if the Alitalia personnel want to do it the hard way, they can get it the hard way. And they should accept the consequences. Moreover since they are doing such a bad job, customer service on Alitalia is not "that great" it seems.

It seems that they are not aware of the situation their Airline is in right now, this kind of actions only are speeding up the downfall of the airline. But such an airline, which isn't even near profitability, should not receive any more taxpayers money. Let it go, and start all over again. Just like Sabena did, look what proud airline SNBA is now. Italy and Alitalia should make a point, and come back with something better then it has right now.

But unfortunatly politics and aviation are to much into each other, and I wonder if we ever will see something like that happen...........

KingG · Post by **KingG** » 29 Jun 2005, 18:53

Unfortunately not skipper, As long as AZ remains a govt brand they will suffer as will all the airlines in Italy that dont get their benefits.

Porco dio it sucks.

regi · Post by **regi** » 01 Jul 2005, 14:47

quite strange that so little people reacted on this lead. And also surprising nobody out there defended Alitalia against my fierce attacks.
So, I go on:
Alitalia, your days are over!

Rayman · Post by **Rayman** » 01 Jul 2005, 16:47

regi wrote:.....And also surprising nobody out there defended Alitalia against my fierce attacks....

….I would like to, and heavily too…. On the other hand I second some of your points, rpt: some.

It’s a very thrilling matter which can only be discussed if also a bit of objectivity prevail the (understandable) emotional fierce attacks and, since your point is broader than this silly strike, I suggest a new topic with a new (eye-catch and appropriate polite) title should be started.

So Regi, to you the honor to start it.

regi · Post by **regi** » 01 Jul 2005, 17:31

You know what I think? That most people don't bother about Alitalia anymore. They want to strike? Doesn't matter. Let them strike and sink further in the mudpool.

Dude320 · Post by **Dude320** » 01 Jul 2005, 18:00

I really wonder when they will finally be bankrupt ??

Last years they are going down and down...

If it was a Belgian Airline, they would have been already bankrupt (ref. Sabena )

pff, if they wanna strike, just let them

Rayman · Post by **Rayman** » 01 Jul 2005, 23:24

I really wonder when they will finally be bankrupt ??

It’s very difficult to predict. Looking at the history, it will never happen.

Last year Sep, they were as good as dead; they didn’t even have enough liquidity to pay salaries and were running losses for 60 mln a month (2 mln a day).

The EU agreed on a bridge loan of 400mln with which they could take a bit of breath.
This loan was agreed to prepare the restructuring plan (splitting in 2 companies: Fly and Sevices) and the privatization which also should bring 1.200 mln fresh private capitals.
After that the loan should be paid back with interest (4,5%). All this is green-lighted by the EU.

I’m afraid this loan is already eaten and digested as last quarter 2004 was a total loss and the 1st half 2005 too, with 40 mln a month (according to CEO optimism).

If it was a Belgian Airline, they would have been already bankrupt (ref. Sabena )

There’s a slight difference, Alitalia is not a Belgian Airline: size, home market and Italy as destination are quite dissimilar. Moreover Sabena’s fall was more a consequence of SR than being Belgian, I guess.

pff, if they wanna strike, just let them

It’s not the strike of next 18th that will ruin AZ. But it will certaily contribute to accelerate the fall.
FA’s have nothing to lose; the management is not convincing and has difficulties to listen and talk seriously with unions. This strike was constantly postponed from 19 Apr to 18 May to 28 May and now to 18 Jun, hoping to a constructive dialogue which is not happening.

dna · Post by **dna** » 02 Jul 2005, 08:52

Another reason to stay well clear of this airline. I flew to Rome last week, and made sure I was on a flight operated by SNBA. A whole difference in service and attitude if you ask me.

As far as the comparison with Sabena is concerned, I would like to point out that the Belgian trade unions didn't exactly take a flexible stance during Sabena's troubled last months or indeed years. After 9/11, when airlines all around the world were shedding staff, it simply wasn't up for discussion for Inge Vervotte et al. It's nice to point your finger at SR, but the trade unions (with their wildcat strikes) most certainly carry part of the blame for Sabena's downfall. The same thing is happening again by the way in many industries here (car assembly plants for example)

Dave