Italian government ministers are set to meet with EC representatives to discuss plans to establish a new national carrier. The airline, which has initially been branded ITA, is emerging from the restructuring of troubled flag-carrier Alitalia. “We evaluated the possibility of continuing the ITA project and expressed the desire to confirm a national air transport carrier,” the Italian ministries of economic development, transport and finance jointly state. Proposals to resolve “issues still open” will be presented to the Commission within the next week, they add. The meeting will involve the ministers and European competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager. Ministers disclosed the planned meeting following a 26 February discussion on the situation regarding Alitalia, adding that the Italian parliament will also have to be involved over the ITA industrial plan.<br/>
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Czech Airlines has filed for reorganisation under insolvency regulations as “the last option to save the company” unless it receives government financial support. CSA says its application to a court in Prague was necessary because an extraordinary moratorium has ended and “all possible solutions to resolve the challenging financial situation” have been exhausted. All scheduled flights of CSA and its parent carrier Smartwings will continue without interruption. CSA says its “payment reputation was challenged significantly” by the pandemic, and laments “unequal and unfair competition” owing to a lack of government support. “Despite recommendations of the European Commission and the International Air Transport Association, CSA did not receive any financial support from the government, as opposed to its direct competitors,” the airline asserts. Smartwings and CSA have asked the government to provide financial support to cover around nearly 7,200 flight cancellations when operations were suspended between March and May 2020.<br/>
Federal officials are seeking a $27,500 civil penalty against an airline passenger who allegedly struck a flight attendant who asked the woman and her companion to leave the plane after a dispute over wearing a face mask. The confrontation on board a Delta flight departing from Miami International Airport for Atlanta began when the passenger's companion refused to wear a mask, secure his tray table or fasten his seatbelt, the FAA said Friday. Delta, like most airlines, requires most passengers to wear masks except when eating or drinking. Pilots returned the plane to the gate, and the pair was asked to disembark. The female passenger began yelling at the flight attendant and other passengers, then hit the flight attendant under her left eye, according to the FAA. The woman has 30 days to respond to the proposed penalty. The FAA said it appears that she violated a federal regulation against assaulting a crew member, which carries a civil penalty of up to $35,000.<br/>