ALITALIA IS understood to be keen to press ahead with plans to cut another 2,600 jobs over the next two years as the Italian flag carrier continues the struggle to win wage concessions from its workforce.
In its 1994 annual results, Alitalia revealed that it shed 1,600 jobs over the last year bringing the workforce down to around 18,400. The restructuring showed up in the results as a L125 billion ($72 million) charge.
Alitalia confirmed earlier reports that it had made progressing in cutting net losses by to L288 billion over the year (Flight International, 15-22 February), but the carrier still faces a struggle to cut operating costs and debts which now top L3 billion.
Negotiations with pilots were due to resume on 7 April under the shadow of another strike threat. Alitalia has already suffered strikes after taking on wet-leased Boeing 767s from Ansett Worldwide Aviation Services to provide lower-cost operations on slack long-haul routes.
Elsewhere in Europe, Swissair added to the gloom by revealing that its net profits were more than halved in 1994, ending the year at SFr23 million ($20 million). The Swiss carrier blames the weakness of foreign currencies, which wiped SFr230 million off sales. Lower aircraft sales also depressed the final result.
Source: Flight International
