How long for a carrier to cease operations?
 

I know there are other Alitalia threads out there, but maybe this is more generic a question.

Latest news says that management will review things and make a decision Tuesday. I have tickets home on AZ on Tuesday.

Anyone have any insight on whether they could actually walk into the office Tuesday morning and cancel everything, or if it will take some time?

Speculation would be fine of course, but I'm wondering if any of our operations or regulatory gurus here have any facts about what the practical realities are of shutting down a major carrier.

thanks

Italy steps in to keep Alitalia planes flying

With an election just around the corner highly unlikely that the Government will let the national airline collapse.

alitalia has on many occasions ceased operations. sometimes in a matter of minutes. I was trapped in a plane for a couple of hours when the ground staff at MXP did a wildcat. happened between the time the plane landed and the time it taxied to the skyramp. i do not think it has ever shut down. if one were to do a search on alitalia in FT, one would find hundreds of posts over years and years asking the same question.

Well, sure, strikes happen, but that's not what we're talking about here.

And I read an article (NYT??) that said that the bridge loan would only be offered once the AF-KLM deal was secure.

But anyway, that's not the point. There are indeed several threads about AZs problems.

My question is a bit broader and relevant to anyone holding AZ tix, whenever this thing is resolved.

Just how fast do these things happen? Do they have to go to court first? Any other procedural things?

Well, ATA shut down overnight this week with no apparent warning to anyone.

In the States I am pretty sure you can file the papers and most of the employees walk away after getting axed. Senior management stays around for a few weeks to work with lawyers and creditors to clean up the mess.

IIRC when Braniff collapsed they called back planes bound for South America mid-flight. So I guess no one is safe until they're home!

Here today gone tomorrow, usually with airlines when they go they go quickly.



Berlusconi has turned AZ into a political issue by saying that he will never approve a deal with AF/KL, given that he will almost certainly win the election on Tuesday I don't think you need to worry that AZ will cease to operate between now and then. Regardless of what has been written AZ WILL NOT shut down it would be a big kick in the teeth doubly so to someone with the ego of Berlusconi.

They can say as you are standing at the ticket counter.....we are closed, flights are cancelled. There is generally no lead time.

If they were to give lead time then in all liklihood that would only bring forward the collapse, passengers would begin canceling flights and suppliers (food/fuel etc) would begin demanding payment upfront.

Some good points. Thanks everyone^

Although I would imagine that their creditors already have them on a pretty tight string, no?

Yikes! Could you imagine? You think you're home free and then...