Alitalia strike forces flight cancellations

Alitalia flight attendants went on a one-day strike today, forcing Italy’s flagship carrier to cancel 90 flights.

The walkout was staged by one of several labour unions representing the airline’s staff. The workers are in contract renewal negotiations.

Alitalia said flight attendants would also continue their “sandwich strike” - refusing to serve in-flight snacks and beverages – until February 26.

Today’s strike forced Alitalia to cancel 28 domestic flights, 50 European flights and 12 intercontinental flights. Earlier this month, a strike by workers belonging to the labour union Sult forced Alitalia to scrap 140 flights.

An Alitalia spokeswoman said negotiations were “going forward” with the group representing the flight attendants, as well as other unions.

Italy’s La Repubblica daily said today that labour unrest could spread this week to several groups representing Alitalia workers.

Last week, Alitalia said its operating loss narrowed in the fourth quarter but widened for all of last year amid the labour unrest and higher oil prices.

Alitalia’s operating loss before interest and taxes was €88.7m in the last three months of 2004 compared with losses of €100.5m for the last quarter of 2003.

For the year, Alitalia said it had an operating loss before interest and taxes of €402m compared with a loss of €384m a year earlier.

The Italian treasury ministry owns 62% of Alitalia, and its financial woes have worried the government, which is trying to balance the goal of helping the airline rebound with the demands of Italy’s influential unions.

Restructuring plans so far have included cutting some 3,700 jobs and separating the airline’s ground service operations from its flight business.