Airline grounded by 'sick' cabin crews

More than 1,000 Alitalia flight attendants, angered over cost-cutting plans, called in sick today, forcing the cancellation of scores of flights in the third straight day of aggravation for travellers.

After an appeal by the Italian government, which owns half of the national carrier, Alitalia indicated it was backing off from its decision to reduce the number of cabin crew on domestic flights from four to three to help the ailing airline’s chances at survival.