The End Is Nigh???

[Sally Donaldson]

Alitalia board approves cheap Air France-KLM takeover deal

From time to time Alitalia have run some good proomotions for travel to Italy from the UK as did KLM. What I wonder will happen to the fares iwhen AirFrance/KLM take over Aiitalia.

Alitalia board approves cheap Air France-KLM takeover deal - Yahoo! News UK

[Sally Donaldson]

Talks break down between Air France-KLM, Alitalia unions

Talks break down between Air France-KLM, Alitalia unions - Yahoo! News UK

[iTALY BOUND]

When i flew to Italy from the UK i went with Ryan Air which was far cheaper than Alitalia if i remember correctly. Could Ryan Air be one of the major causes of the airline's problems?

[Gala Placidia]

Well, many moons ago, when I was a young graduate, I started working for AIR FRANCE. I did so for several years and I think that I know their philosophy as far as employment is concerned. They will only be interested in keeping only the best employees and the ones who are really essential after their takeover.KLM was on the same line of thinking. Alitalia, in my old times at least and I do not think that this would have changed at all, had already a reputation for having too much staff and not for the right reasons. So I am afraid that AIR FRANCE/KLM are going to practice some drastic surgery which is not want the unions would like to see.
As for pricing, AIR FRANCE has never been the cheapest airline; however, they have started offering some good deals because they have to join the competition in order to survive. I have booked a return flight to New York from Bilbao (Spain) for some 450 euros, which I think it is most reasonable. I am sure that they will have interesting offers to Italy when the deal comes through. And this will keep everybody on their toes!

[adriatica]

i somehow doubt that this deal will go ahead... although often enough i have been proved wrong by events... basically air one want the opportunity to tun alitalia...and this is run by one of the most forward thinking business people in Italy at the moment a chap from abruzzo actually...

the crunch for the air france bid which set off all sorts of alarm bells was the fact that they were going to finish the air cargo side... which means that italy would have no major interest in the transport of goods by air... and the other major factor as to why i do not think it will progress are the plans for the milan airport...basically it is to be taken out of the international air scene as regards alitalia and the major hub is to be rome... if it had been the other way around it would have been slightly understandable from a commercial sense but would have created the same problems of sense of pride that has now made it a major political hot potato as they say...

centre right gets elected i see air france being dumped and air one getting the deal...
best thing would be to let the whole company go into bankruptcy and start afresh in my opinion because having to pay for alitalia is like someone asking you to pay for the air you breath ...it has no value ... and if it goes bankrupt you could buy it for a song and the unions would maybe be grateful...

as it is any takeover is just bound to have problems in that sense and is the root cause of alitalias demise ...much as suggested above over staffing ...

[Gala Placidia]

An interesting article on this subject:

Troubled Alitalia awaits Air France-KLM takeover offercrapo

[Sebastiano]

Originally Posted by iTALY BOUND

When i flew to Italy from the UK i went with Ryan Air which was far cheaper than Alitalia if i remember correctly. Could Ryan Air be one of the major causes of the airline's problems?

dEFINITELY NOT, it's just one of the last/latest factors.The problems of Alitalia are not recent and go back in time.The problem is complex but derives from the fact that over the last twenty/thirty years as a state industry has been used by political forces of all colours as a place to postion their "clientele" (voters/supporters) their friends relatives etc.An enormous land structure promotion/representative offices all over the world made the company very heavy,periods of poor management,under capitalization,24 trade unions and a consequently heavily unionized environment all contributed to it's weakness.Probably the straw which broke the camel's back was the impossible dream of having two hubs after the extension of the Milan airport of Malpensa (no airline in the world has or can permit the luxury of two hubs)the cost of this operation reduced the company to a situation close to failure.Many however do not know some of the better sides of Alitalia like the fact that until recent times it had what was considered the best and most complete and rigorous maintenance and controls systems of their planes,one of the best if not the best track records of low accident rates,and what until now was considered the best school of preperation of it's pilots and air personel.Lets hope that whatever happens that this patrimony will not be lost.
As for Ryan air etc it was never these local euro flights where the real money was but the long haul stuff.transatlantic etc..

[Noble]

In the days before Ryanair flew to Perugia (before Dec 2006), I was a regular commuter between the UK and Italy. Alitalia flew Heathrow to Milan, then all change for an onward flight to Perugia. (Or the reverse). Never once did the connection tie up. Alitalia staff took pity on me several times and squeezed me onto the later/last flight to Perugia. Friends were less than fortunate. This route is now to be cancelled. What business commuters between Perugia and Milano will do I know not but Ryanair, in the main is doing a better job and carries freight, which it prefers to our suitcases in the hold.

[Sally Donaldson]

ANSA.it - News in English - Alitalia looks set for receivership

[Gala Placidia]

Receivership is the worst possible option for Alitalia and its employees. It will only be good for the sharks and the vultures.