Etihad expresses dismay at Alitalia situation

Etihad Airways said May 2 it had “done all it could” to preserve Alitalia, but that “fundamental and far-reaching restructuring” was now essential for the airline to survive in some form. Etihad is a 49% shareholder in Alitalia and was seen as a “white knight” when the Italian carrier seemed close to collapse in 2014. At the time Etihad took a stake in Alitalia, Etihad president and CE James Hogan spoke warmly of Alitalia’s potential and the strength of its brand, but cautioned that its workforce would have to let go of the ways of the past in order to survive. Etihad said it was disappointed that despite its significant investments in Alitalia, the Italian airline had applied for extraordinary administration <br/>