Alitalia Chairman Luca di Montezemolo is ready to leave his position at the loss-making airline after the board approves a new industrial plan, a source close to the situation said Tuesday. The Alitalia board will meet Wednesday to discuss the new plan, the source added. Alitalia's controlling shareholder Etihad Airways, which has a 49 percent stake, is pushing for deep job cuts. The airline's financial losses and failure to fend off low-cost competition is widely blamed on years of poor management.<br/>
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Delta flyers, prepare to say arrivederci to the plain Jane plates and glasses of the past. On April 1, the Atlanta-based carrier is rolling out 86 new pieces from Alessi, the design company based near Lake Maggiore, in its Delta One and first-class cabins. Best known for such whimsical housewares as Michael Graves’s tea kettle with a bird on the spout and a spaceship-inspired lemon juicer from Philippe Starck, Alessi is now taking versions of its bestselling tabletop accessories, including silverware, serving trays, wine glasses, and salt-and-pepper shakers, to 30,000 feet. The collection for Delta is based on popular items from six of the 300 designers who have created products for Alessi in recent years. It includes a coffee maker designed by Kristiina Lassus, Ovale plates by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, and the bestselling Big Love spoon by Miriam Mirri. “It’s very playful, which is what drew us,” said Allison Ausband, Delta’s senior VP of in-flight service. “When you think about our customers and the journey that they’re on, it’ll bring a smile to their face.” Most of the products had to be redesigned for air travel—a three-year process, said Alberto Alessi, the company’s president. The typical stoneware used to manufacture the dinnerware was too heavy, so Alessi switched to new bone china, which reduced the thickness and weight of the plates. “The challenge was trying to keep the products consistent with the original version,” he said. The move is part of a multibillion dollar strategy as airlines of all types seek to woo high-spending customers with the best amenities, so-called “soft product.” <br/>