Classic British Flight Sim

Well I'm with Rich on this one.
Alitalia should be allowed to die. The airlines overall internal structure is simply untenable.
Project the current structure forward into the mean, lean market environment of the immediate future and one can see only unavoidable, massive and continuous losses.
Look closer for example at the present Fleet with its older, inefficient, high fuel cost, high maintenance signatures and project that forward into a mean tightening market. Nope,against the existing newer, more efficient, properly capitalised fleets flying right now it simply wont work . Take the current endemic and systemic overmanning inefficiencies; project those into that same super competitive, lean marketplace of tomorrow- it doesnt work. Well you could change it. V. Unlikely. Why bother even. Why spend money tearing down the old architecture when you could spend the same money on a new debt free airline. Doesnt make sense.
Well, the Govt might sweeten the deal maybe? Inviting an immediate EU stop order - unfair competition. Even the brand as we know of old - Alitalia - a historically proud, powerful brand as was is, in reality, a millstone and an actual hindrance to developing any kind of business plan with the interests of the current employees and the Nation at its heart. The Alitalia brand for example scores low both in passenger and travel market appreciation as it stands and would get a hell of a lot worse before it got better - and then too on the International Capital financial markets at the moment. Would you lend to the Alitalia brand?
I can't think of any good business case for letting Alitalia go on. Given the unique politico/social position of Alitalia in society there may be a political case. But with any kind of a sound financial outlook. None.
Much better to let it go. If demise, it is to be -sound business preactice suggests its better to be your own author and design the end and rebirth on your terms rather than wait for others. The birth of a new debt free airline enjoying the public support of the government is investable, clean and attractive. Lets go. The Swiss did it. Swissair of all airlines becoming a fresh, growing sustainable flag carrier called SWISS. Much better!
I reckon 'ITALIA' or 'ITALI' might work..

It seems the only interested party is a consortium who wants to by just the profitable parts

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7615113.stm

Garry

speedbird591 wrote:

markw wrote:my two least favourite airlines with the rudest staff in the air

Nonsense - you've obviously never flown with me, Mark

Ian

True, but I think you'd be hard pressed to beat the miserable old boot of a stewardess (at least I think she was female, she could have been a bloke in a dress I suppose) who was in charge of the cabin on the last CDG-BHX I did with real Air France (as opposed Cityjet who have been running the route recently for AF), she was certainly at a certain point on her biological clock that month, although she also appeared to be of an age where that might no longer be a problem but a lack of hormones might be. She had a face like a bulldog chewing a wasp and the manners of Attila the Hun. Cow.

If she's in charge of cabin service on Prayer Force 1 the Pope will excommunicate her on the spot.

Alitalia have been losing money hand over fist for years now, the Italian government signing of on a blank cheque year after year. Debts have piled up to in excess of £1billion.

If they go belly up, a lot of people owed money by Alitalia, face a difficult time too.

Much as it is a name that has been around for many years and weel recognised, the situation can't go on forever, and perhaps it's time the plug was pulled.

NC

It would be very, very interesting to hear the view from the other side of Markw's mirror on his CDG-BHX flight!!

cstorey wrote:It would be very, very interesting to hear the view from the other side of Markw's mirror on his CDG-BHX flight!!

I have all the depth of a puddle, me...

Rant on

The problem with Alitalia as the same with everything that is nationalised in that it becomes a bucket for people who think they have the right to work even when they are under performing, something that is proliferated by trades unions who hold the respective government to ransom. I can never understand how in an economic downturn, private companies are tightening their belts, pay rises are being trimed so that they can stay afloat, while the public sector is looking for more money. It isn't there, tighten your belts the same as the rest of us. I'd rather see the 4500 people we employ in the UK continue to have jobs, than weaken the company by demanding payrises which threatens us all. Some people seem to think governments are a bottomless pit of money.

I find it amusing (in a black kind of way) that the only deal on the table is being blocked by trades unions because of job loses, when the only other option is that everyone looses their job, absolute lunicy.

N.B... I'm not saying everyone who works in the public sector, but as someone who has spent 50% of his work life in each area i feel i can comment on it.

Rant off

A fine rant there Ben and one I'm sure a lot of us agree with (speaking as one who has never at any point belonged to a union other than the union that is the British Isles) ;-)

Aint that just typical though! :roll: A rock and a hard place and they want the rock :brick:

ATB

DaveB :tab:

Last I heard on that score was the Union were keen to talk to the consortium now that it is likley all the jobs will go..........bit late now

Really, selling the company should have nothing to do with the Union at all.

Garry

If only there was one Union ! There are 9 I think - 4 have agreed to the terms and 5 still have their heels dug in (including the Pilots and CC). Evidently 3000 job loses is unacceptable.

Ok lets just argue with the only consortium willing to save the airline then, until they walk away, Alitalia goes down the toilet and we all loose our jobs. All together now ............ All for one ! ............. and one for.......... errrrr, sh1t, anyone know if Air One are recruiting ?