Alitalia 'may not last a week'

Italy’s national airline, Alitalia, might stop flying within a week if unions don’t change course and accept a rescue plan offered by Italian investors, the country’s transport minister said today.

The only hope for the survival of Italy’s bankrupt flagship airline is for union leaders to agree to the investors’ terms, and for the government to convince the investors to put the deal back on the table, Minister Altero Matteoli said.