News: Alitalia could be forced to ground fleet within days
Flights > News > # 1898 (22/09/2008)
Italy's civil aviation authority ENAC says it will withdraw Alitalia's operating licence this week unless it presents a cost-cutting rescue plan.
The country's bankrupt flag-carrier is currently flying with a provisional licence, according to ENAC's president Vito Riggio.
"If the financial plan doesn't arrive in three to four days the licence will be suspended," he said.
ENAC is meeting the troubled airline's special administrator today (September 22).
Alitalia is reportedly losing more than €2 million (£1.6 million) a day, but an attempt to reach a deal with unions and Italian consortium CAI collapsed last week.
The airline's special administrator is set to make a last ditch appeal for rescue bids. Without a rescue, Alitalia flights could be grounded within ten days. Last week, the airline cancelled a number of flights from Rome's Fiumicino airport amid rumours it could no longer afford to buy aviation fuel.
Add to:
Related Airlines:
