No-frills threat to Alitalia rescue plan
No-frills airlines have reportedly threatened legal action if the European Union backs a rescue plan for the ailing Italian carrier Alitalia.
According to the Daily Telegraph, 11 members of the European Low Fare Airlines Association – including Ryanair and FlyBe but not EasyJet, the newspaper states – have written to the transport commissioner Loyola de Palacio complaining that any such move would equate to “illegal aid”.
Wolfgang Kurth, head of Hapag Lloyd Express, who chairs the organisation, said its members were increasingly concerned about moves to split the carrier into two and shift Alitalia’s debt into just one of the two new companies.
He reportedly said: “Asymmetrical distribution of the original company’s liabilities would be tantamount to illegal state aid.”
The Telegraph reports that the association has already written to the EU twice on this matter but has not yet received a reply.
Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad Ltd
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025