On May 2, Alitalias board unanimously voted to place the airline into administration, triggering thatfeeling of dj vu...again. <\/p>\n
Ive been an aviation journalist for nearly 15 years. Over that time Ive lost count of how many times the Alitalia death knell has been rung. <\/p>\n
Like the 1993 Bill Murray film, Groundhog Day, we keep repeating the same day again and again. Alitalia is caught in an endless loop. <\/p>\n
Italian shareholders and Etihad Airways were willing to plough another 2 billion ($1.1 billion) into the airline, based on a cost cutting plan where only one third of the cuts were labor-related. <\/p>\n
But just as the media have been through the cycle several times, so have Alitalias employees. The plan was rejected, forcing the company into administration. Again. <\/p>\n
After indulging in hedonism and committing suicide numerous times, he [Phil Connors, an arrogant Pittsburgh TV weatherman] begins to re-examine his life and priorities, says the Wikipedia entry for the film. <\/p>\n
The parallel with Alitalia is strong. The question is will Alitalia be given another chance to re-examine its existence? The most likely answer is yes, but the outlook for the foreseeable future is far from fair. <\/p>\n
Victoria Moores victoria.moores@penton.com<\/a> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Continue reading here:<\/p>\n Italy's Groundhog Day - ATWOnline (blog)<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" On May 2, Alitalias board unanimously voted to place the airline into administration, triggering thatfeeling of dj vu...again. Ive been an aviation journalist for nearly 15 years Continue reading