Alitalia union leaders call on Italian government to maintain a strong national airline

Filt-Cgil, Fit-Cisl and Uiltrasporti general secretaries, via a public statement made via print media sources, urged (10-Apr-2021) the Italian Government to commit to a maintaining a national carrier with a fleet of at least 100 aircraft along with a dedicated plan to improve cargo transportation. The union leaders said they are concerned that competition negotiations with the European Commission will result in a new national airline that is without a brand identity, limited to regional operations and with only modest business ambitions. The result would be a carrier "without planes and personnel and slots sufficient to compete in a fierce market such as that of Italian and global air transport" which risks sending Italy's aviation market back 75 years and putting it at the mercy of European competitors, according to the unions. [more - original PR - Italian]