As of Monday the 15th, it looks as if Alitalia might begin to cease operations. Talks between the unions and the “new Alitalia” have not been going anywhere, and the airline simply does not have the cash to go on. The differences between what the unions want and what the new Alitalia is willing to…

In my first article about the Alitalia soap opera, I wrote: In my view, Alitalia is emblematic of the rot that riddles the Italian economy. Which is why I focus on the issue so much. It won’t be the first or last time that politicians do shady deals to the detriment of the populace, in…

Not surprisingly, the various unions involved in the “new Alitalia” deal rejected the contract proposed by the company designated to buy up the good bits of Alitalia. These negotiations ought to be interesting, as everyone is between a rock and a hard place: no pilots, no new Alitalia. No new Alitalia… well, maybe some of…

The Economist is, as could be expected, pretty harsh with the Alitalia situation: On a wing and a taxpayer’s prayer An aspect of the story that has continued to develop in recent days, is that the governor of the Lazio region, and now the president of the province of Milan have both expressed interest in…

This was part and parcel of their plans to rework things, so it’s not unexpected. One thing I didn’t mention in the previous article, is that trading of Alitalia shares has been suspended since June, meaning small time investors who perhaps bought shares thinking that Berlusconi was going to turn it around will probably be…

The latest Alitalia news: A new company has been formed (“Compagnia Aerea Italiana”) which will be where investors put money to buy out the assets of the old “Alitalia”, which will be allowed to fail under a bankruptcy law that the government will craft just for the occasion. In reality, the company will be divvied…

The latest: Last week, Berlusconi announced that now there are talks with a “foreign firm”, about an “alliance”. Obviously there were no actual details, just the same vague declarations that have been forthcoming since last spring. Why anyone would want to partner with Alitalia is a good question… it would be sort of like dancing…

Today’s news in the ongoing Alitalia saga: It appears as though it will be necessary to fire 5000 people from Alitalia, according to the Berlusconi plan, significantly more than the Air France plan called for. However, he said, the unions are pretty much faced with a “take it or leave it” offer – leave it…

Forget “The Sopranos”, the Alitalia saga is just as exciting, and despite seeming too strange to believe at times, isn’t fiction. Alitalia is Italy’s national airline, created in an era when everyone, even tiny Belgium, had their own airline. Today, it teeters on the edge of bankruptcy, as Italy’s politicians shovel wads of cash at…