Русская версияItaly's troubled national carrier Alitalia has filed for bankruptcy
protection, paving the way for the company to be restructured and
downsized.
The move has been awaited for some time as the company
has been shedding some 2 million euros a day and has struggled to
find a buyer. The 61-year-old airline has not turned a profit since
1999 due to competition from budget carriers, labour strife and
inefficiencies. Analysts expect the company to be broken up, with
healthy components sold off to a group of Italian investors. The
outcome is seen as a victory for Italian Prime Minister Silvio
Berlusconi, who opposed efforts to sell Alitalia to foreign
investors. Critics say tax-payers will end up footing the bill of
the semi-state owned company's liquidation.
(Deutsche Welle)
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