Alitalia loses half a million euros a day: “Nevertheless we have already made the formal commitment to arrive at 2017 with the company in breakeven. But it's not easy, we need everyone's effort". This was stated by the president of Alitalia, Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, in a hearing in the Transport Committee of the Chamber.
“This year we will make investments of 400 million euros – he added -. We had asked the government for an investment of 20 million a year to promote Italy on the routes where Alitalia goes, but not a single euro of investment has been made since 2014. Unfortunately, many of the things that were part of the agreement have not been respected ”.
What Alitalia hopes for is “a great Italian tourism plan – continued Montezemolo -. We don't have a world class tour operator. We have to work as a team to establish where Italy can go in the coming years and have an Italian hotel brand, because with all due respect to all brands, we don't have a strong brand. And, last but not least, a promotional plan to attract new travellers. Fortunately there is great hunger for Italy in the world, but we are still far behind”.
Finally, the president of the company warned that “a whole series of privileges that no other company has cannot continue to stand. Everyone has to make his own sacrifices. Most of the Alitalia staff, whom I have to thank, reacted in an extraordinary way. Everyone has to do it."
Yesterday a national strike by Alitalia's flight personnel was staged.
