When all the airlines the world over have failed and the world as we know it lies in ruins the crews will Deadhead home on an Alitalia jet.
Sorry. A bad joke. Just to highlight the fact that Alitalia will never be allowed to fail.
Kind of like the U.S financial system.:D

I confirm your bad joke I didn't like...:cool:

Now 850.000.000.000 dollars approved in USA for what?...

Massimo - I don't think his/her joke was that bad. Basicaly stated what I asked you in the past, how come Italy has been allowed to subsidize your airline for this long when other EU countries had to stop doing that with regards to SAS, KLM, etc.? A legit question.

As far as the 85 billion - I don't think an Italian should be giving us lectures on keeping a balanced budget, wouldn't you say? Since the end of WWII has Italy EVER had a balanced budget? :rolleyes:

I would dare to say that the reasons behind the subsidizing is a cultural phenomenon. Cultural change does not happen overnight, and the Italian culture is more deeply ingrained than some other European cultures and the North American culture.

I would not throw too many stones in this day and age about balanced budgets either. With the massive subsidizing going on right now right here in the good ole 250 year old USofA.

WG

PS: and that is 850 Billion with a "B", which is more than many countries annual GDP btw.

That's not what I am doing and I'm not throwing any stones. Massimo didn't like a 'joke' so I simply asked how Italy got away with subsidizing their flag carrier for this long comparing to other EU nations? I know the issue very well as I was born and raised in Europe.

As far as B as in billion (or M as in milliard as the Brits sometimes call it) - you're right that it's a huge number however, if you look into some other European bailout programs they’ve had in the last 20 years or so, you'll see that per capita number is actually pretty small when compared to their programs. For example the Swedish bailout program in the early 90’s cost actually more per person than our current program.

You know, apples to apples.

sorry guys, I didn't want to appear as rude as I show in the last replay to gear puller...
also my english is not so expressive as my italian could ...

my short answer to your very complicated question Wannabe:

Alitalia...
many money...
a lot of interests...not economists and private investors but overhall politicians who decide not always the best for the airline but often the most convenient for them...

infortunately but sometimes fortunately (not in this case)...capitalism in still not radicated in our country.

Our Republic Constitution wants to guarantee many workers rights more then the Usa one.
for example: every Alitalia worker that will not keep his job will be assured with a minimal salary for few year and his licenses kept updated.
..and this, even if the economical situation in Italy is worring ebverybody.
..It's historically radicated and we hardly try to mantain this kind of privileges, respect to what we believe and respect.

What do you think about this?

Ciao.

what is the long term looking like for Alitalia. There is a group that would like to travel to israel in a few months and Alitalia is looking like the best rate. From one aviator to another, should I book 40 seats with Alitalia now for a future trip?

Maybe I am too paranoid but personally if I were to make a trip to Israel, especially as an American, I'd look for an airline with superior security practices (El Al comes to mind) not so much the prices. I love Italy and think Alitalia is a good airline however, Italy has a huge illegal alien Arab population which isn't exactly known to be very pro-Israel, or pro-American. :rolleyes:

Italy is the same country that recently released one of the Achille Lauro Palestinian hijackers (remember the murdered wheelchair bound American tourist?). In july 2008, one of those hijackers was released from prison for "good behavior"! :eek:

So in a nutshell, I don't think Italy takes terrorism related to Israel seriously enough and therefore I'd fly Altialia to all destination except Israel...

Sorry, but this has to be the dumbest post I have ever read.