Alitalia unions call for strike June 24 as relaunch plan drags on

A group of Alitalia pilot and cabin crew unions said they would strike June 24, delaying a planned walk out until after the latest deadline for a formal bid for the bankrupt carrier. Defining a plan to rescue and relaunch Alitalia, which declared bankruptcy 2 years ago, has been fraught with complications. In the latest twist, the Italian govt announced May 3 that railway company Ferrovie dello Stato had until June 15 to present a plan for the relaunch, extending a previous April 30 deadline. That was the latest delay to the process that has been slowed down by the Italian govt’s wish to keep at least part of the airline in Italian hands. It wants to use a revamped “new” Alitalia as part of a multi-modal transport strategy that will boost the country’s tourism. <br/>