Saturday November 15, 08:21 PM
Ailing Alitalia grounds flights, says more misery next week
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ROME (AFP) - Strike-hit Italian flag-carrier Alitalia (Milan: AZA.MI - news) cancelled about 40 flights from and to Rome and Milan on Saturday and told travellers to expect further delays next week.
"Alitalia is developing a reduction plan for its flights for all of next week due to the continuation of the strike," said a company statement on the sixth day of the industrial action by air crew opposed to a takeover deal.
The ailing airline plans to post a list of next week's affected flights on its website from Sunday.
Seven departure flights and 21 arrivals were cancelled on Saturday at Rome's Fiumicino airport, the Telenews agency reported. The Italian news channel Sky Tg24 said 16 flights in and out of Milan Linate would be grounded.
The airline grounded 60 flights in or out of Rome on Friday.
The pilots are striking in protest at a takeover deal by investor group Italian Air Company (CAI). The group made a binding offer last month for the air passenger transport activities of Alitalia, which was put in special administration in August.
Under the terms of its offer, CAI would take on 12,500 Alitalia workers while cutting some 3,250 jobs.
The airline, which is 49.9 percent state-owned, is losing about three million euros (3.8 million dollars) a day.
Antonio Martone, the head of the Italian watchdog for labour action affecting public services, said Thursday the strike was a "flagrant violation of the rules (and) a serious infringement of citizens' rights."
He issued a "final warning" to the representatives of the five unions to come to an agreement on the takeover deal.
The new Alitalia is set for take-off on December 1.
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