Word: alitalia
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...Paris as an international hub and an increasingly rare commitment to high-quality, free in-flight service, which have boosted ticket sales enough to lift Air France--KLM to the top of Europe's airlines, with a 25% market share. And it might make a run at ailing Alitalia, whose fractious workforce resembles that of Air France in its dark days...
Flying isn't so smooth at Alitalia, the wobbly Italian flagship carrier now being sold by the state that could fit nicely into Air France--KLM. Although several other companies have made bids for Alitalia, a stake in the airline would give Air France a dominant position in the lucrative Italian market and more heft and coverage of its international network. Air France scarcely hides its interest in the strategic allure of linking up with Alitalia, but last month it refused to make a bid for a 49.9% stake the Italian government put on the market, which by law would...
...make the deal viable, considerable changes would be inevitable. Indeed, most observers feel Alitalia will require a massive overhaul, including significant job eliminations. Although the left-leaning Spinetta is no fan of job cuts (and avoided them in turning Air France around), he's not likely to propose any deal until politicians in Rome clearly signal they'll let a new owner do what's necessary to halt Alitalia's descent. "Air France has already had to battle politicians and unions to survive once. It's not going to get itself into the same situation again," says Derocles...
Catering to premium-class travelers is not new. Lufthansa, Swiss, KLM, Alitalia and others have flown smaller aircraft for that purpose on trade routes such as Stuttgart to Detroit. What's new is the leap by private investors into the transatlantic market. They are raising capital, buying planes and negotiating for airport slots--and it's starting to look like a trend. L'Avion began service between Paris and New York City on Jan. 3; Silverjet launched its single route between New York and London...
...described as an open and peace-loving people. He also seemed to reverse his stance on Turkey's bid to join the European Union. Just two years ago, while Cardinal, he said the country's culture and history left it "in permanent contrast to Europe." On board his Alitalia flight, instead, he was pointing out that modern Turkey was founded on secular ideas of the French Constitution. Later in the day, Vatican officials in fact confirmed that the Holy See would favor Turkey's bid to eventually join the E.U. if it met all the necessary conditions...