Plans for the relaunch of Alitalia by Italian investors are estimated to include the loss of 3,250 permanent jobs from the current Alitalia and Air One operations, Italian labour minister Maurizio Sacconi is quoted as saying.
Sacconi and officials from would be investor Compagnia Aerea Italiana (CAI) met unions yesterday to discuss the latter's plans for relaunching Alitalia. CAI has already submitted a preliminary offer for a significant amount of Alitalia's assets after it filed for extraordinary administration. A relaunched carrier is expected to involve fellow Italian operator Air One.
"Those who have presented the offer estimate that out of 17,500 structurally employed by Alitalia and Air One, 14,250 should be re-employed by the company itself or by other companies," Sacconi is quoted in Italian reports as saying. It is not clear what the impact on temporary positions at the carriers would be.
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During yesterday's meeting with unions Alitalia administrator Augusto Fantozzi is also reported to have given unions a seven day deadline to reach agreement on the relaunch plans. Air France-KLM dropped an offer earlier this year for Alitalia after failing to secure union support for its plans and CAI has made union support a condition of its offer.
Speculation has also continued on Air France-KLM's potential involvement with the new carrier.
The Alitalia relaunch plan envisages securing an international strategic partner. Lufthansa - already a partner with Air One - has been seen as a leading candidate, though existing Alitalia partner Air France-KLM has said it intends to remain a strategic partner and has left the door open to taking a stake in the new company.
A report in French daily La Tribune says the airline has been offered a 10% and 20% stake in the company as part of its involvement with the opportunity to become a majority owner after 2013 - the Italian investors in CAI are reportedly locked in for five years.
But a spokesman for Air France-KLM played down the report. "We do not confirm these statements in La Tribune, all we can say is Air France-KLM still is complying with the guidelines defined by the Italian Government which is seeking an industrial partner for Alitalia, but that this partner may only have a minority stake. Anything else is speculation."
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
