DA.C - View Single Post - Alitalia, a.k.a. "The never ending story"

Hapag-Lloyd · 05-04-2008, 06:22 AM

Just some food for thought: what are other EU carriers, like Lufthansa, LOT Polish Airlines. Air France/KLM or Austrian doing right as opposed to Alitalia failing? Of course, comparisons can be drawn to the demise of Swissair (superbly outlined in Sepp Moser´s great book, "Die Swissair Story") and Sabena.

Still, the question remains: why should Alitalia profit from my tax money so they can "muddle on", whereas competing airlines like the ones mentioned above suffer from disadvantages that only benefit the Italian leader and a couple of his voters?

And why should other EU airlines not ask for subsidies, too, to level the playing field? Why not give the same amout of Euro to Lufthansa, BA, Iberia as well?

Sorry to say, but Alitalia is dead, and has been for years. Rather than keep the zombie alive with EU tax money, that money should be put to better use, like in the form of social plans to ease the layoffs for the then former Alitalia employees.

Given Berlusconi´s reputation throughout the EU, that will also probably be the only cause Brussels could be willing to dole out money for.

05-04-2008, 06:22 AM	#13
Hapag-Lloyd Insane Collector Join Date: Feb 2004 Age: 40 Posts: 2,395	Re: Alitalia, a.k.a. "The never ending story" Just some food for thought: what are other EU carriers, like Lufthansa, LOT Polish Airlines. Air France/KLM or Austrian doing right as opposed to Alitalia failing? Of course, comparisons can be drawn to the demise of Swissair (superbly outlined in Sepp Moser´s great book, "Die Swissair Story") and Sabena. Still, the question remains: why should Alitalia profit from my tax money so they can "muddle on", whereas competing airlines like the ones mentioned above suffer from disadvantages that only benefit the Italian leader and a couple of his voters? And why should other EU airlines not ask for subsidies, too, to level the playing field? Why not give the same amout of Euro to Lufthansa, BA, Iberia as well? Sorry to say, but Alitalia is dead, and has been for years. Rather than keep the zombie alive with EU tax money, that money should be put to better use, like in the form of social plans to ease the layoffs for the then former Alitalia employees. Given Berlusconi´s reputation throughout the EU, that will also probably be the only cause Brussels could be willing to dole out money for. __________________ THIS SPACE 4 RENT!!!