Rumor has it they are going to stop flying tomorrow, September 15th.

Yep - they've run out of fuel - makes flying a bit hard.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7614336.stm

Paddy Power is now giving odds of 4-1 on they'll be the next to go.

The other runners and riders

Sky Europe 7-2
Spanair 16-1
Air Berlin 20-1

Then German Wings, Malev, Clickair, Aer Arann, UAL, SAS, Jet BLue, LOT, Olympic, Vueling and Air One all at 25s.

Remember: the bet's on who's NEXT: not who'll go in the next two months.

So far Alitalia is still flying today.

Way back in mid-April, days before I was leaving for my trip, I was worrying over the news that they were going to stop flying at any moment. I can't believe they have managed to hold on for so long.

They richly deserve it - their unions and the Government have lived in unreality for so long, only liquidation could bring them back to earth

You know how the Pope always flies on Alitalia?

Well, he left Lourdes yesterday on Air France.

I left on Sept. 3rd with Continental/Alitalia to Istanbul. Continental said if anything happened with Alitalia, that they would re-route me. I am returning (or hoping to) from Turkey on the 20th. Were they still flying today, the 16th? The Italian gov owns 49% of the airline, so I doubt they'll stop flying...At least that is what i'm hoping. Please keep updates.

Heather

Yes, they're still flying (except the Pope). And you <b>will</b> be rerouted if anything happens. That could make your return flight either more or less convenient. Some reroutings can be very nice surprises.

This is possibly a stupid question, but what will happen to the flight I have booked through them in June 2009 if they stop running? Will someone else pick up their routes? Will our money be refunded and we start back at square one? This is throwing a bit of a wrench in our plans!

Good to know: if you buy airline tickets through a travel agency, the travel agency has insurance to refund you. If you buy tickets directly from an airline, if it goes belly up you can lose everything.

My boyfriend and I booked a codeshare flight on Alitalia through Delta months ago for mid-October.

I finally called Delta about it today and none of the three reps I spoke to knew anything about the situation. They have no bulletins - nothing.

One said, &quot;If what you're saying is true, I think you'd be smart to rebook now just in case. We do our best to re-route people, but the closer you get to your departure date, the fewer the options you'll have if the flight is cancelled.&quot;

So we swapped our non-stop Alitalia flight for a layover in Cincinnati (on Delta). I feel better and the difference in fare paid for our change fees.

Btw, this article prompted the call:

http://www.forbes.com/markets/2008/0...markets12.html

&quot;Andrew Fitchie, a transport analyst at Collins Stewart, said Alitalia's time was nearly up. 'Alitalia, in the form that we see it today, won't be in existence for much longer.'&quot;

Today might be the make-or-break day. Yesterday there was a strike of course and about 40 flights were cancelled.

Ciao, last news from Italy.
Situation of Alitalia is still very, very weak...
Check on their website the strike / problems calendar; yesterday 40 flghts cancelled but the others on time and &quot;better than usual&quot; service!!
To day is an important day for its future; the new possible owner (CAI) with Mr. Berlusconi's governement support has asked to all workers unions to close the on-going discussions.
If they fail ... can be a big problems in few weeks.
Ciao.
Gianni

Well, it's never over till the fat lady sings.

But there aren't that many fat ladies in Italy these days. And the investors have withdrawn their offer.

So it really, really looks as if, unless Burlusconi tells his cronies to make the investors an offer they can't refuse, it's all over.

http://www.ansa.it/site/notizie/awnp...118274194.html

Miond you, if I were one of those investors, I'd be on the lookout for a horse's head in my swimming pool tomorrow.

<b>Alitalia could be grounded in 10 days</b>

<i>Reuters
Friday, 19 September 2008

Italy's civil aviation authority ENAC will ground Alitalia (AZPIa.MI) flights in 7-10 days from next Monday if the special administrator does not present a new rescue plan to them that day, a source at ENAC said today.


&quot;From Monday if there is no news proceedures will be started and within a week, 10 days at most, if there is no positive outcome Alitalia flights will be stopped,&quot; said the source.


The airline's special administrator, Augusto Fantozzi, is due to meet the aviation body on Monday after Italian consortium CAI withdrew its offer to buy part of the airline yesterday, in the face of union opposition to job losses.</i>

That would place the last flights either on 28-29-30 September.

Hi all,

I was able to fly back yesterday on Alitalia and both flights were great...service much better than when I left. Even got an ice cream cone for desert. I told some stewards &quot;Good Luck&quot; and they all were happy to have someone wish them well and one replied, &quot;Thanks so much, we need it&quot;. A lot of other passengers didn't seem to aware of their tentative situation. Good luck to those flying with them in the next few days.

FYI - Rome airport has no free water and if you want non-tonic water, it's the pink bottle for 1.3 euro!

Additional news posted today. Not looking good

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h...nhoLgD93CHSEG0


Good luck to anyone with a ticket after the 29th.

Heather