Fri, Oct 13, 2006
Aircraft Sabotaged On Eve Of Talks
Alitalia, like many US
airlines, is struggling to stay afloat. But Alitalia's problems run
far deeper than that.
On Monday, one day before talks between management and labor
were to resume, maintenance workers found damage to two MD-80
aircraft that appears to be sabotage. They found cut cables in the
tail of one aircraft and a torn door seal on another.
Airline spokesmen said the discrepancies never compromised
flight safety since they were reported before the planes flew. The
UK's Times says this isn't the first time Alitalia planes have been
sabotaged.
The Italian pilots’ association head Fabio Berti called
the attacks "extremely serious" saying they "could have caused a
massacre." He added, "I cannot believe anyone would be so
irresponsible."
At this point, no one knows who the perpetrators are, but
authorities are worried they had access to a "super-protected"
area.
Analysts project a nearly $400 million loss for Alitalia this
year. So far, workers have responded to suggestions of job cuts or
privatization to save the airline with strikes and walk outs.
The Italian government wants to give the airline what it calls a
$1.5 billion recapitalization loan. But, the European Commission
thinks that would be just another in a series of government
bailouts, and this one might be illegal under commission rules.
Italian Transport Minister Alessandro Bianchi says the
Government wants to develop Alitalia, not to sell it off, but
acknowledges possible merger partners won't be interested until
Alitalia gets financially well.
Industry experts say the airlines' only hope is tough love from
the Italian government. They say more help in the form of cash only
postpones the need for a drastic restructuring and
privatization.
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