Originally Posted by PUCCI GALORE

FWIW I would be surprised if AZ manages to survive that long unless Mr Mediaset gets his son to buy what is left of it. I suspect further that he did not make his billions by being an idiot and he will initially let it collapse . He can then get rid of the staff and hire against a completely non-union backgorund in a buyer's market. He will be seen as a Hero for raising the Italian flag. he will do with Alitalia what Delta and United did with PanAm. Wait for it to collapse and get everything for little outlay as opposed to AA paying a large sum for the poor old turkey that TWA had sunk to, or that BA attempted to do with Air Liberte. Fortuantely that folly was recognised as throwing good money after bad and so I imagine has this finally appeared to KL/AF.

Personally I would think that buying any Alitalia tickets in the next few weeks should be a fair bet unless one final strike does bring the airline to a halt. Beyond that you are in the hands of the national lottery which might reward you or which might cause you a massive loss. I only hope that those who did buy tickets did so with credit cards which offer some protection (full protection in the UK as they are seen as being part of the purchase).

Alitalia is symptomatic of much that is happening in Italy. The north generates most of the money which goes to Rome to be spent (for spent read squandered).

It is very sad to be reading about an airline which has never properly adapted to the modern times and which was an state property for years and which cannot subsist alone. I think that we may be being a little premature about the demise of Alitalia but if it could happen to Swissair it can happen here. I think that the collapse will be overnight. We will get up one morning to find it sitting at Fumicino lifeless and the aircraft in London and elsewhere stuck with notices over unpaid landing fees. Very sad.