posto un articolo del 29 aprile 2000, su Alitalia, Malpensa, Linate, Klm: difficile trovare grosse differenze con oggi, se non le low cost che han peggiorato ancora di più la situazione nazionale
complimenti in ogni caso alla lungimiranza degli olandesi con cui lavoro sempre bene
By ELLEN KNICKMEYER
Associated Press Writer
ROME (AP) -- Italy's loyalty to a hugely unpopular airport that's up to a $100 cab ride outside Milan appears to have cost its national carrier a vital partnership, leaving leaders fretting about the future of the Malpensa airport and Alitalia itself.
Italian politicians hoped to talk KLM Royal Dutch Airlines out of its announced decision Friday to immediately sever its less-than 2-year-old partnership with Alitalia.
But KLM's chief was quoted as putting blame squarely on the Italian government -- and the opposition demanded government and airline executives come before Parliament to explain.
``The government's bad choices have created a situation that risks creating problems for the very survival of Alitalia,'' lawmakers of the opposition National Alliance said in a statement.
KLM abruptly killed its deal with Alitalia late Friday, saying the venture had become ``an unacceptable business risk that could jeopardize its financial position.''
``The alliance with Alitalia is not viable, considering the continuing uncertainty, mainly with regard to the future of Malpensa and the proposed privatization of Alitalia,'' KLM said.
It demanded $91 million in compensation for the failed venture.
KLM entered the deal looking to Malpensa as a second hub in Europe. But for years Malpensa has been plagued with problems, including a poor on-time record and long waits for baggage.
Trying to force Malpensa into use, Italian Transport Minister Pierluigi Bersani in March ordered airlines to switch most flights from Linate, six miles from downtown Milan, to Malpensa, 33 miles from Italy's financial capital. The government said the move was essential to easing congestion at Linate.
But foreign airlines -- including British Airways, Lufthansa and Air France -- complained that the move would unfairly favor Alitalia and filed a complaint with the European Commission.
Alitalia said Friday it still was waiting to learn details of KLM's complaints. In advance of an explanation, it defended both the pace of development at Malpensa and of privatization of the air carrier.
KLM Chief Executive Officer Leo van Wijk, in an interview with Italy's ANSA news service, was quoted as saying the responsibility ``clearly is the Italian government's.''
``If this is definitive, there go our chances of developing our company into a top player in European air transport,'' said Ernesto Stajono, president of the transport commission of Parliament's lower house.
The financial ramifications for Alitalia were not immediately clear. But Finance Minister Ottaviano del Turco said Italy would have to move quickly to ``remedy the situation, either by re-establishing the relationship or by finding another partner for our national carrier.''
complimenti in ogni caso alla lungimiranza degli olandesi con cui lavoro sempre bene
By ELLEN KNICKMEYER
Associated Press Writer
ROME (AP) -- Italy's loyalty to a hugely unpopular airport that's up to a $100 cab ride outside Milan appears to have cost its national carrier a vital partnership, leaving leaders fretting about the future of the Malpensa airport and Alitalia itself.
Italian politicians hoped to talk KLM Royal Dutch Airlines out of its announced decision Friday to immediately sever its less-than 2-year-old partnership with Alitalia.
But KLM's chief was quoted as putting blame squarely on the Italian government -- and the opposition demanded government and airline executives come before Parliament to explain.
``The government's bad choices have created a situation that risks creating problems for the very survival of Alitalia,'' lawmakers of the opposition National Alliance said in a statement.
KLM abruptly killed its deal with Alitalia late Friday, saying the venture had become ``an unacceptable business risk that could jeopardize its financial position.''
``The alliance with Alitalia is not viable, considering the continuing uncertainty, mainly with regard to the future of Malpensa and the proposed privatization of Alitalia,'' KLM said.
It demanded $91 million in compensation for the failed venture.
KLM entered the deal looking to Malpensa as a second hub in Europe. But for years Malpensa has been plagued with problems, including a poor on-time record and long waits for baggage.
Trying to force Malpensa into use, Italian Transport Minister Pierluigi Bersani in March ordered airlines to switch most flights from Linate, six miles from downtown Milan, to Malpensa, 33 miles from Italy's financial capital. The government said the move was essential to easing congestion at Linate.
But foreign airlines -- including British Airways, Lufthansa and Air France -- complained that the move would unfairly favor Alitalia and filed a complaint with the European Commission.
Alitalia said Friday it still was waiting to learn details of KLM's complaints. In advance of an explanation, it defended both the pace of development at Malpensa and of privatization of the air carrier.
KLM Chief Executive Officer Leo van Wijk, in an interview with Italy's ANSA news service, was quoted as saying the responsibility ``clearly is the Italian government's.''
``If this is definitive, there go our chances of developing our company into a top player in European air transport,'' said Ernesto Stajono, president of the transport commission of Parliament's lower house.
The financial ramifications for Alitalia were not immediately clear. But Finance Minister Ottaviano del Turco said Italy would have to move quickly to ``remedy the situation, either by re-establishing the relationship or by finding another partner for our national carrier.''
