Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways lands in Rome with bigger target in sights
Etihad Airways landed its first flight to Rome this morning, as it awaits another Italian milestone: a takeover of the Italian carrier Alitalia.
The Abu Dhabi airline used an Airbus A330 for the six and half hour flight. Etihad flight EY83 landed at 7.10am Rome time and a ribbon-cutting celebration took place at the airport.
From Etihad, Khaled Ghaith al Meheribi, senior vice president of governmental and aero-political affairs, and Hassan Al Hammadi, senior vice president of executive affairs, were present.
The Italian ambassador to the UAE, Giorgio Starace, also attended.
Etihad is awaiting regulatory approval for its purchase of a stake of up to 49 per cent in the Italian airline after Alitalia said last month that its board of directors had given its backing to a deal. The deal is expected to be completed this month.
Etihad is demanding downsizing measures and thousands of job losses at the loss-making airline – just as it did when it took equity stakes in Air Serbia and Air Seychelles. Etihad has gained a reputation for turning around struggling airlines in which it invests, however Alitalia can be Etihad’s biggest challenge to date.
Mr Hogan previously declined to say exactly how many jobs would be lost at Alitalia, but the Italian airline’s chief executive, Gabriele Del Torchio, is reported to have put the figure at 2,200 of the carrier’s 14,000 staff.
Three labour unions were planning an arranged strike on July 20. However, the Anpac union told The National that the strike “was put-off after successful talks with the government.”
Other conditions to turn Alitalia’s performance around include cutting loss-making routes, negotiating new employment contracts with highly paid staff, and reducing airport costs.
According to reports quoting the Italian transport minister, Maurizio Lupi, under the terms of the potential deal Etihad is likely to invest up to €1.25 billion (Dh6.22bn) in Alitalia over four years. Of that, €560 million would be spent on Alitalia shares, while the remaining €690m would be spent on upgrading Alitalia’s airplanes, interiors and training staff.
Last year Etihad grew its equity alliance to seven, comprising Air Seychelles, Air Berlin, Virgin Australia, Air Serbia, Ireland’s Aer Lingus, India’s Jet Airways and Etihad Regional, a Swiss carrier formerly known as Darwin Airline.
selgazzar@thenational.ae
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